Thanks Lainey.

 

Although I expect this arose in light of a recent, specific instance, the advice is worth remembering in general -- and, importantly, that it can be the cumulative information base, gleaned and sorted all by computer that is problematic.

So a name one day, a birth-date the next month, an address a year later, they could all end up in the same data record and, cumulatively, provide information that you really don't want floating around out there. HPH

 

Good reminder and resolution. Although I don't understand why Jerry has to keep bragging about going on vacation.

 

This is why I never post my real age online. Very good advice, LB.

 

I don't use my real name on line, especially my last name, I generally try to keep personal info and other details to a minimum. You never know who will be reading S2KI or Face Book.

 

This excellent advice. Not only for here, but for all of the social networking sites as well. Be very carefull about what you post to Facebook and what you say in your tweets. Generally, conversations which include personal information should be conducted by protected e-mail and/or pm.

 

Anyone can track anyone with the IP address lets not pretend there's a false sense of security on the web just because you don’t post some info on the web

and yes even if you use fake names it really doesn't matter in this day and age – I can track most websites you frequent based on user name

I can find all your neighbors with their phone numbers all and I can find all your relatives and their ages / address and how much you paid for your house Public record - and just about anything else

I understand Bill’s post about posting other’s information without their consent BUT there is so much traceable information about everybody out there it’s really easy and if some bad guy wants it he'll find it period..

you are not anonymous when you use the web - you leave tracks EVERYWHERE YOU GO unless you use something like a anonymizer and even then there are still tacks..

 

Thanks everyone. I appreciate everyone chiming in on this. The more who support it, the more others will take it seriously. I can't tell you how often people have reacted to this sort of warning with "oh, he's a lawyer. He sees problems in everything." Here is a very good Wiki article on the subject of identity theft.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_theft

 

This issue is a little different Steve. It includes info about a medical condition that exposes the family to all sorts of crimes. And it puts it all in one place where any knucklehead can find it. You don't even have to understand how to decipher IP addresses.

Yeah, you can find anyone. Years ago everyone was in the phonebook. But you make it a lot easier for criminals if you highlight information that raises the person's profile as an easy target.

 

All the more reason not to make it any easier for the bad guys.

LB - that's what you folks are here for - to advise us and save us from ourselves.