Comments on: My Low-Level Online War

By: It’s mine and I will choose what to do with it « Enlightened tradition

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:24:11 +0000

[...] struck me about this was that (pace Mary Abraham’s concerns about information disclosure), people quite freely disclose all sorts of information about themselves on public social [...]

By: VMaryAbraham

VMaryAbraham — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 07:53:52 +0000

Thanks, Kathleen. I'm operating on the theory that every little bit of obfuscation helps in this regard — at least until they build super computers capable of seeing through our stratagems.

- Mary

By: VMaryAbraham

VMaryAbraham — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:53:52 +0000

Thanks, Kathleen. I'm operating on the theory that every little bit of obfuscation helps in this regard — at least until they build super computers capable of seeing through our stratagems.

- Mary

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:49:50 +0000

Absolutely. I do a fair bit of online purchasing, and have an alternate e-mail address, which in turn is based on completely fake information I've given hotmail. Same for PayPal, eBay, Craigslist. All fake and all different. I'm not sure any of this protects me, as eventually I have to give out my credit card number. But I like to think I'm limiting some of the true personal information.

By: VMaryAbraham

VMaryAbraham — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:00:34 +0000

Monica Bay (aka Common Scold) mentioned today an interesting article on online privacy by Vivian Tero, SECURITY: Dangerous Shadows. It's well worth a read. http://www.lawtechnews.com/r5/showkiosk.asp?lis...

By: VMaryAbraham

VMaryAbraham — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:21:50 +0000

From Oz Benamram:

I do have a trick to share: I bought a domain name, and forward all
email that goes to that domain to my inbox. Whenever I have to
provide my email address on a website, I register as [that website
url] @ [my domain].com. That's how I know who sells my data to whom…

But since we have to honest today… there is another benefit to this
method: if an email address is being spammed (could happen with or
without bad intent of the site owner, buy viruses or Trojan hourse
software), I can set a rule to close that one email address.

I'm checking how KMAdvice@[my domain].com is doing

By: seanabrady

seanabrady — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 02:27:23 +0000

I am often to be found at social functions downing my ice tea with a 1/2 finished beer at my side. Sobriety and I are good friends…but yes I do mean what one might share while sober.

By: VMaryAbraham

VMaryAbraham — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 01:49:39 +0000

Sean -

Disclosing no more than you would at a social function is a useful rule of thumb. Although, it might useful to clarify that we mean at a social function while sober!

- Mary

By: seanabrady

seanabrady — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:25:53 +0000

I am perhaps not as cautious as I could be where privacy is concerned. I generally think that if I was in a social situation, a holiday party or at a conference for example, what information would I be willing to discuss with a group of people I had met there? Name….sure. Birthday…the month and day if not the year are ok. Telephone number…I am giving out my Google Voice number recently, so it is likely I would be willing to give this to people. Social Security number…never. Income level…nope. Address…not specifically but I will say what town I live in. Email address…yep. Drivers Lic number…nope.

I am concerned about privacy, but I am not so concerned that I give out incorrect information…at least not typically.