On line privacy

Dude111 · 04-05-2010, 06:16

Very interesting,especially for Facebook fans!

http://www.pcworld.com/article/195270/xxx.html

joglynne · 04-05-2010, 13:17

Thanks for the link Dude.

I have never Googled my own name before and was quite happy to find no trace of me on the net. My internet personas though, now they are a different matter. It's quite scary seeing how many times I crop up in my various guises.

I guess I shall have to do a bit of pruning.

Lord Nikon · 04-05-2010, 19:34

It can be surprising. I ran a quick check on a couple of people from here. I now know the following.
Paul M's name, company address, job title, location, age, photo, What company he works for, what the company does, company director name, probable home address and phone number.

Frank's current location, address, his father's name and phone number.

This took all of 2 minutes. I will not publish details as that would be unethical, but the amount of information that can be gleaned is incredible.

I also ran a check one someone I know, he is involved in 'security' I found his home address, wife's name, child's name, and a reasonable amount more information.

The most sophisticated search system I used to perform these lookups was google. (Albeit I have a little more knowledge than some when it comes to phrasing the search) but still.

Sasha222 · 04-05-2010, 20:09

Thats frightening. How is all that info going on there.

Lord Nikon · 04-05-2010, 20:21

Part of what I do involves information gathering and collating, so I have more insight on how to get the information. A lot of people aren't careful about the information they impart on the internet. This can make tasks such as the above easier.

Social networking sites sometimes have the facility to geolocate the posting location, especially when done from iphones or similar devices with onboard gps. Google Buzz is another such facility. Footprints are found easily with modern search techniques and common sense follows. For example - if a tweet is posted from a location at 4am, odds are it is a home location, especially if other tweets have been made from the same location at similar times over several days (Especially if the location is not in a business area) Failing which if a number and address shows up for someone over 25 with the correct initial near to that location, then odds are it may be the individual, especially with unusual surnames where there are no other instances found.

Suggestions - if you tweet, don't let it geolocate you, if you have a landline, go ex directory. If you buy domains for commercial use, use a mailing address, for personal use - opt out of the whois. etc etc. And above all be careful about what personal information you share in a public forum. Use pseudonyms in public, don't give out your surname if you can avoid doing so. Especially on unusual surnames.

Sasha222 · 04-05-2010, 20:30

Thanks so much for this info. I cant believe it can be so easy to get so much info about people

Cuba3 · 05-05-2010, 15:34

Internet may help you to know everything about all people. Evan just he doesn't use Internet. His friends may talk about him on chats/forums.

**Stuart** · 05-05-2010, 16:29

I should be secure. I tend to be quite cautious about what info I give out. On and off line, actually.

What information I do give out is often intentionally vague.

xpod · 05-05-2010, 18:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

I should be secure. I tend to be quite cautious about what info I give out. On and off line, actually.

What information I do give out is often intentionally vague.

What he says.

Lord Nikon · 05-05-2010, 19:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cuba3

Internet may help you to know everything about all people. Evan just he doesn't use Internet. His friends may talk about him on chats/forums.

This is exceptionally vague. Only real clue here is English is most likely not this individual's primary language.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

I should be secure. I tend to be quite cautious about what info I give out. On and off line, actually.

What information I do give out is often intentionally vague.

This is actually quite intelligible.

Tp be honest the main reason so much is available on Frank and Paul is because their surnames as well as their christian names are in the public domain.

iFrankie · 05-05-2010, 20:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Nikon

It can be surprising. I ran a quick check on a couple of people from here. I now know the following.
Paul M's name, company address, job title, location, age, photo, What company he works for, what the company does, company director name, probable home address and phone number.

Frank's current location, address, his father's name and phone number.

This took all of 2 minutes. I will not publish details as that would be unethical, but the amount of information that can be gleaned is incredible.

I also ran a check one someone I know, he is involved in 'security' I found his home address, wife's name, child's name, and a reasonable amount more information.

The most sophisticated search system I used to perform these lookups was google. (Albeit I have a little more knowledge than some when it comes to phrasing the search) but still.

Do you work for the government? FBI?

heero_yuy · 06-05-2010, 10:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by joglynne

Thanks for the link Dude.

I have never Googled my own name before and was quite happy to find no trace of me on the net. My internet personas though, now they are a different matter. It's quite scary seeing how many times I crop up in my various guises.

I guess I shall have to do a bit of pruning.

I put in my real name, seems I share it with 46 other people in the UK but only 2 in the states. Only about 4 actual ID references and these are related to company directorships which are public domain and the 192 website as one of my phone lines is PD as well.

As for Heero Yuy, he's all over the net. (96,000 odd google hits)

multiskilled · 06-05-2010, 11:44

I got nothing from my real name or user name,that actually pertained to me on Google. Seems I don't exist.

Dude111 · 07-05-2010, 09:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by defirish

Thanks so much for this info. I cant believe it can be so easy to get so much info about people

I would really like to know how this site gets info on people!!

www.peekyou.com

I have found myself there 7 times so far and its making me VERY ANGRY!! (THANK GOODNESS YOU CAN EDIT THE INFO YOU FIND BY LOGGING IN (I think they only have info on USA people im not sure))

Site like this shouldnt exist!! (MAJOR INVASION OF PRIVACY)

**Maggy J** · 07-05-2010, 09:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dude111

I would really like to know how this site gets info on people!!

www.peekyou.com

I have found myself there 7 times so far and its making me VERY ANGRY!! (THANK GOODNESS YOU CAN EDIT THE INFO YOU FIND BY LOGGING IN (I think they only have info on USA people im not sure))

Site like this shouldnt exist!! (MAJOR INVASION OF PRIVACY)

Can't find me at all though..at least not under my main nom de plume or my real name.

---------- Post added at 09:23 ---------- Previous post was at 09:22 ----------

Can find me under my CF name though through Google and also my main nom de plume at the BBC