Facebook’s security chief on the Snowden effect, the Messenger app backlash and staying optimistic

A Q&A with Facebook chief security officer Joe Sullivan.

While is hard to comment on the relationship between government agencies and the information security community, Sullivan said he is optimistic about the future of security, because the Snowden revelations and world events have made users more aware of data security issues.

In respect to the user outcry against Facebook’s messenger app, Sullivan stressed that over the years Facebook has tried to educate people on security and data protection, “whether it is not sharing your password, or being thoughtful about which applications you connect to through our platform, or using two-factor authentication.”