Would Exposing Yourself Online Endanger Your Privacy and Safety?

[ayja]

Do I really need to explain my signature?

The first line tells you roughly what my full name is. Surname is Yew, given name is Guo Zheng (thus G.Z. Yew). Second line tells you that I am a Civil Engineering student and the third line tells you what university I am from.

The following lines tell you that I'm currently attached to PETRONAS Carigali Sdn. Bhd. for industrial training and if you want to find me you can find me in the address given there. :P

isn't this a little too public? this is afterall, a public forum where hundreds of people are able to access, and once they click they can access almost all important information that leads to you. quite dangerous considering our world right now, not to mention the risk of identity theft.

[nickvl]

isn't this a little too public? this is afterall, a public forum where hundreds of people are able to access, and once they click they can access almost all important information that leads to you. quite dangerous considering our world right now, not to mention the risk of identity theft.

I agree with you.... if you google your name it's just shocking how much your life is exposed....

Read 'the Broken Window' by Jeffrey Deaver...after that you'll probable develop a schizophrenia and paranoia about anything online...

[henry_yew]

isn't this a little too public? this is afterall, a public forum where hundreds of people are able to access, and once they click they can access almost all important information that leads to you. quite dangerous considering our world right now, not to mention the risk of identity theft.

Nothing is ever too public nowadays. There is no point trying to hide everything when everybody is able to get everything out of you now.

It's really a case of "You can run, but you can't hide".

[youngyew]

Well there's not much point hiding your identity. Even if I don't say I am studying in Melbourne right now, if someone wants to find out about me, there's no way I can avoid being found. Unless you lead a life of hermit and don't interact with people in your daily life at all.

By the way guys, when you are sharing your signature, make sure you copy and paste your whole signature into the post itself. It's so that people will still see it when you change your signature some time in the future.

[ayja]

Nothing is ever too public nowadays. There is no point trying to hide everything when everybody is able to get everything out of you now.

It's really a case of "You can run, but you can't hide".

but why make their job much easier?
and to youngyew: I believe you can live a non-hermit life yet try to secure your privacy :))

[youngyew]

It really depends on what kind of privacy you are referring to.

If you went to a party and got embarrassingly drunk, then there's no way you can stop your picture being spread online.

If you want to keep some personal stuff that are not seen by others, if you don't share it online in the first place then no one would know anyway.

Would you mind to tell us an example of how Henry's signature (i.e. his name, university and employer address) would predispose him to invasion of privacy? How would that differ had I not seen the university and the employer address?

[ayja]

It really depends on what kind of privacy you are referring to.

If you went to a party and got embarrassingly drunk, then there's no way you can stop your picture being spread online.

If you want to keep some personal stuff that are not seen by others, if you don't share it online in the first place then no one would know anyway.

Would you mind to tell us an example of how Henry's signature (i.e. his name, university and employer address) would predispose him to invasion of privacy? How would that differ had I not seen the university and the employer address?

I'm not sure where I might have confused you, but no I wasn't referring it to as an invasion of privacy. I was just saying, if people wanted to obtain his information, he has made it so much easier for people to basically, map out his life. Of course, it's his choice - but do you realise I have his name, where he works and his blog. In his blog, he might/might not have mentioned where he went to school, showed pictures of family members that makes it so much easier for a perpetrator to basically, get hold of his whole family's information. besides that, I can find out where his favourite haunts are, and I can so easily determine where he lives. I'm more concerned towards the safety of him and his family. If anyone wanted to stalk him - voila - everything is at the stalker's fingertips. so, my question is, yes people can get hold of information there's nothing stopping them, but, why make it easier for them?

not to mention - if he mentions his mother's maiden name in his blog, and in the event that he loses his credit card/atm card - we have the perfect recipe for fraud.

maybe I'm someone who watches too much CSI, but I'm saying this as a person who's been taught to be careful, and I absolutely do not wish for any of this to happen to henry, or anyone else. I just would like to create awareness, with all the scams nowadays.

[vseehua]

Well, the information contained in his signature will be public no matter what, because it's work address. He will put the very same think to his business cards, or his business emails so that people can contact him in various ways

[ayja]

Well, the information contained in his signature will be public no matter what, because it's work address. He will put the very same think to his business cards, or his business emails so that people can contact him in various ways

Yeah. But this information passed on is with his knowledge, and to people whom he has met. However, after thinking it through, and seeing as how we are in the ICT world, I remembered that petronas would publish his name and position and his workplace on their website anyway.

And not to mention that right now he's exposing information about him to people who don't know him. That's a stark contrast to people who google to find out about him (if I were to find out his address for say, to reconnect with a long lost friend).

[henry_yew]

Yeah. But this information passed on is with his knowledge, and to people whom he has met. However, after thinking it through, and seeing as how we are in the ICT world, I remembered that petronas would publish his name and position and his workplace on their website anyway.

And not to mention that right now he's exposing information about him to people who don't know him. That's a stark contrast to people who google to find out about him (if I were to find out his address for say, to reconnect with a long lost friend).

Well, I can't really be fearful about so much things. As I have been in the Internet world for close to nine years, I have to accept the fact that information about me is bound to be made available to anybody anywhere. While it is true that I am exposing information about me to people who don't know me or whom I don't know, there isn't really anything that is private.

Of course, I won't go around exposing my usernames, passwords, ATM Pin numbers and the like in public, but my point is that let a person decide what is private and what is not. As far as I am concerned, if I can put them up in display, there is nothing really private about that.

Same goes with the people here in ReCom. They may not want to reveal their gender because to them it might be private. But to me there is nothing really wrong in exposing my gender. You may perceive that information such as my workplace, my blog address, my course, etc. is private information, but to me I'd like to provide some updates on my whereabouts.

As for my life, I believe that as long as I don't make enemies, then there's no reason I should fear for my life. I have nothing to hide and I have nothing to worry. Thus it makes my life so much easier. People who fear for their lives normally would have made many enemies and done so much wrong that they know that their lives would be targeted.

Besides, I'm so lazy now to think of a "cool" signature. :P

P/S: My leaving such information in my signature has also led to many young ReComers to seek me for information on my university and also PETRONAS. It allows them to look for the right person straightaway for information. In a way, my signature conveniences these individuals.

[youngyew]

I just moved this part of discussion to a new thread to avoid digression in the original thread (Explain your forum signatures (http://recom.org/forum/showthread.php?t=8712)).

[trojan209]

i actually share the same sentiment like ayja. and yes, i also agree, that may be some of us just could not understand on how serious it could be.

A documentary on the tv where i live showed on how easy it is for the identity thieves to steal some information and use it to apply for a credit card. in europe, the procedure of applying for a credit card is very easy provided a BASIC personal info (full name, address, employer, employer address, job position, date of birth, place of birth and nationality) is true and can be verified with the national databank and the applicant doesn't have a history of bad credit. in this case, the thieves can just search the info from undestroyed bank letters, phone bills, utility bills, resume, CV etc from the garbage bin at the back of the victim's house. in the country where i live, it is legal for someone to search or grab anything from the garbage bin if it is not on someone's private land property. even if a police saw them, he couldn't do anything.

that is when the thieves use the harder way. imagine that with some little effort on the internet. a car accident would always happen no matter what BUT u can reduce the risk by driving carefully. a snatch victim will always say that she has no enemy and therefore has no worry until somebody grabs her handbag. i know these days it is easy for anyone to steal our personal info but doesn't mean we just leave everything to fate and do nothing. even if someone does broke into ur house and steals everything, at least u know that u locked the door and nobody can blame u because u were not leaving the door wide open.


ok then, i already done my part of spreading some awareness of personal information safety. if anyone still want to share with the world every personal info he has and thinks that "it isn't really anything that is private", then by all means go ahead. i wouldn't mind actually. i have no right to force anyone to be more careful and it's also not my problem from the very beginning anyway.

[youngyew]

Eerm, what do you guys think about Google Street View in this issue?

[bluez_aspic]

I thought I'd try my luck Googling for Ayja - she's done a pretty decent job, I'd say. The only thing I've figured is that she's female because she's fond of pink.

Some of you guys are throwing in the towel too fast.

[Miracle_seed]

This is a true story of my friend:

She went to another country to study, wanting her friends to keep in touch with her, she left her new phone number on friendster, facebook and blog. Then unexpected thing happened, it seemed this move invited a stalker, and he kept sending some disgusting love sms to her, she ignored them at first, and after a while the person stopped disturbing. This already caused her to aware and removed the phone numbers immediately. However, recently, the stalker returned and bugged her again, she was terrified and thinking of changing her phone number now. She has an open blog too, updating quite often, mainly on her daily lives, suddenly she felt so insecure as she didn't even know who's viewing her blog, and might expose herself in danger. Now she decided to start a new blog for all the private stuff and disclose the blog to some close friends and family only, she only uses the old blog for general stuff.

She might not be aware at first for disclosing her phone number online, but certainly this shows that disclosing too much of details online can invite unnecessary potential hazards.

[ayja]

i actually share the same sentiment like ayja. and yes, i also agree, that may be some of us just could not understand on how serious it could be.

A documentary on the tv where i live showed on how easy it is for the identity thieves to steal some information and use it to apply for a credit card. in europe, the procedure of applying for a credit card is very easy provided a BASIC personal info (full name, address, employer, employer address, job position, date of birth, place of birth and nationality) is true and can be verified with the national databank and the applicant doesn't have a history of bad credit. in this case, the thieves can just search the info from undestroyed bank letters, phone bills, utility bills, resume, CV etc from the garbage bin at the back of the victim's house. in the country where i live, it is legal for someone to search or grab anything from the garbage bin if it is not on someone's private land property. even if a police saw them, he couldn't do anything.

that is when the thieves use the harder way. imagine that with some little effort on the internet. a car accident would always happen no matter what BUT u can reduce the risk by driving carefully. a snatch victim will always say that she has no enemy and therefore has no worry until somebody grabs her handbag. i know these days it is easy for anyone to steal our personal info but doesn't mean we just leave everything to fate and do nothing. even if someone does broke into ur house and steals everything, at least u know that u locked the door and nobody can blame u because u were not leaving the door wide open.


ok then, i already done my part of spreading some awareness of personal information safety. if anyone still want to share with the world every personal info he has and thinks that "it isn't really anything that is private", then by all means go ahead. i wouldn't mind actually. i have no right to force anyone to be more careful and it's also not my problem from the very beginning anyway.

Glad to know that =)

Eerm, what do you guys think about Google Street View in this issue?

Again. an invasion of privacy. especially in the world of physical threats, it actually gives perpetrators an easy view of the surroundings. no good. you can see people's front/backyards as well. but luckily, the photos are slightly dated..so the info isn't current enough for you to use it for evil deeds.

I thought I'd try my luck Googling for Ayja - she's done a pretty decent job, I'd say. The only thing I've figured is that she's female because she's fond of pink.

Some of you guys are throwing in the towel too fast.

hahaha. i doubt you'll be able to find anything on me on google cause i don't use this name except for recom =). and I don't know how you figured I like pink... I don't.... hahahah :))

[ayja]

busted XD. oh and my signature is from a book - "not in a billion gazillion years" by paula danzinger. funny author but sadly passed away a couple of years back. =(. but I digress.

[youngyew]

Again. an invasion of privacy. especially in the world of physical threats, it actually gives perpetrators an easy view of the surroundings. no good. you can see people's front/backyards as well. but luckily, the photos are slightly dated..so the info isn't current enough for you to use it for evil deeds.
The thing is, it doesn't exactly "invade privacy", it only makes it easier for people to invade it. As have been argued by many people, the street view doesn't see more than what a pedestrian can see.

The case for privacy invasion by Google Street View, IMHO, is as strong as the case for privacy invasion by, say, the invention of automobile or binocular.

[ayja]

The thing is, it doesn't exactly "invade privacy", it only makes it easier for people to invade it. As have always argued by many people, the street view doesn't see more than what a pedestrian can see.

The case for privacy invasion by Google Street View, IMHO, is as strong as the case for privacy invasion by, say, the invention of automobile or binocular.

good point. but it makes it easier (lol..this term..again) for someone to be able to view the streets from another country. so it's a matter of 'national security'? what with all the t.error attacks and all

[Ikmisje]

One thing, never use the same username (pick something commonly-used instead of something unique and hard to forget) for every forum u visit...

I am now going under different nicknames for each of the message boards I visit. I have made a few mistakes tho. One of them is signing up hotmail/ MSN with a significantly unique Windows Live ID. Later, I did the same for my photobucket album where the photos in it were posted (not my own pictures though) on a forum I posted regularly. To make it worse, I actually use this email for school purposes and I really hate it if I have to make a new one, then notify everyone that I change a new contact email blahblahblah So now whoever tries to google that nickname can easily be linked to that forum I posted, where I shared about almost everything (because I thought no one knew me there and I was safe to reveal everything as long as I didn't give out too much personal infos. Btw it is a forum with little to no Malaysian active members)
Another concern of mine is how Facebook is rapidly eroding my (and others') privacy. Friends tagging photos all the time then these photos u might not wish to be seen or shown on your profile are there automatically. Thus, I remove tags all the time :D
I also try not to give out as many personal infos about myself as one of my coursemates has confessed not too long ago that he knew about one of my forum accounts long time already. One info here and there added up and will soon become enough for someone with a slightest intention to sneak a look into your life. I only disclose where I am from, I am studying in a uni near home, taking a course with low percentage of girls, my race LOLOLOL!!!

[capablanca]

One thing, never use the same username (pick something commonly-used instead of something unique and hard to forget) for every forum u visit...

I am now going under different nicknames for each of the message boards I visit. I have made a few mistakes tho. One of them is signing up hotmail/ MSN with a significantly unique Windows Live ID. Later, I did the same for my photobucket album where the photos in it were posted (not my own pictures though) on a forum I posted regularly. To make it worse, I actually use this email for school purposes and I really hate it if I have to make a new one, then notify everyone that I change a new contact email blahblahblah So now whoever tries to google that nickname can easily be linked to that forum I posted, where I shared about almost everything (because I thought no one knew me there and I was safe to reveal everything as long as I didn't give out too much personal infos. Btw it is a forum with little to no Malaysian active members)
Another concern of mine is how Facebook is rapidly eroding my (and others') privacy. Friends tagging photos all the time then these photos u might not wish to be seen or shown on your profile are there automatically. Thus, I remove tags all the time :D
I also try not to give out as many personal infos about myself as one of my coursemates has confessed not too long ago that he knew about one of my forum accounts long time already. One info here and there added up and will soon become enough for someone with a slightest intention to sneak a look into your life. I only disclose where I am from, I am studying in a uni near home, taking a course with low percentage of girls, my race LOLOLOL!!!

Err, you know you can control the privacy of your photos. I can control who looks at my tagged photos as well as access into my photo albums and other personal information.

[senksiang90]

wow, for me i dont really mind showing off my identity. i guess the more u try to hide, the more someone would actually try harder to find out more about u. bt in the end i guess all u should do is control ur words and try nt to hurt any1 especially in heated online discussions. i use the same username for youtube, facebook, yahoo, msn, recom, twitter, etc n so far i have nt experienced any probs.. bt all i cn say is as long as u select ur words correctly, u wont end up getting screwed by anyone. I once played an online game and got into a heated battle, chain attacking each other, getting alliance to fight with each other and so on. imagine if we do such things real life.. LOL.

[Smilehoe]

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=ACA43C7BDB02D1F9&search_query=steve+rambam

Here's a talk given by steve rambam, an online investigator. The title being "Privacy is dead" discusses several issues on how easily our information can be obtained. It's shocking to see even uploading photos to flickc allows someone to trace back to you.

However, having said that, the point of his talk is more than convincing us that measures are futile. Rather it serves to remind us to be better cautious before we click the post/submit button online.

My point of view is, although I'm aware that certain personal informations are available online, I try to make it harder for people to collect them. To quote steve (not verbatim), "Things that go online aren't yours anymore."