What Web Surfers Can Find Out About You 234
cweditor writes in with an updated version of a story the likes of which you might have read before, What the Web Knows About You. But reporter Rob Mitchell found out vastly more about himself (his research subject) online than he could have even a year or two ago. The big difference is that state and local governments are putting online digitized records, often with Social Security numbers and other personal details intact. Mitchell ends by questioning how much good it does for banks or credit card companies to require 4, 5, or more independent identity "factors" before providing access to account details, when most or all of the factors they request can be found online about nearly anyone.
Furthermore (Score:1, Funny)
They will see that I am suave, handsome, and well-groomed. Also I have a shapely nose. Will you marry me. My address is on the webernet.
they found that (Score:0, Funny)
Anonymous coward was the first to respond here
Bad News (Score:5, Funny)
I googled my name and found 3 obituaries.
Re:Bad News (Score:5, Funny)
Well, if google says you're dead three times, who am I to claim otherwise?
Re:Bad News (Score:2, Funny)
That's okay. I googled my name and found three wedding announcements! By the end of the next month, I'll be married to four different people!
Re:Bad News (Score:3, Funny)
What's the big deal? Just because you are now dead doesn't mean you never had a life or three.
Search all you want (Score:5, Funny)
Psha. Search all you want, and you'll never discover whether "rw^j8*=1IF9d" is my mother's maiden name, my favorite desert, or where I got my first kiss. And it won't matter anyway, 'cause that's not actually one of the strings I use.
--MarkusQ
P.S. And for an added level of security, I'm not really me, nor am I the person I told the bank I was.
Re:Bad News (Score:5, Funny)
Phone conversation overheard in a bank:
"Hello, Mr. Anderson? This is Washington First National Citi Wells Fargo Mutual. I'm afraid we are unable to process your loan request. Well, unfortunately it appears that you're dead. Yes, it is surprising. My sincerest condolences on your recent loss.
Well, according to your obituaries, you initially died on October 12, 1982, of trauma resulting from a car accident. Wow, that looked like a terrible accident. I hope you didn't suffer too much. Then on February 23, 1997, you were decapitated in an industrial accident... oh, I'm glad to hear you're feeling much better. Except for being dead, of course.
"Mr. Anderson, no, I'm sorry, we cannot approve a loan to a dead person. You may be feeling fine, but Google says you're dead. Well, killed by an IED in Iraq most recently. 2005? You don't remember being there? Well, that doesn't prove anything because you're dead; I wouldn't expect you to remember it.
"Mr. Anderson, please calm down. It's not healthy to get so agitated. I mean, it's definitely not healthy to be dead, but there's no need to make matters worse... Yes, as a matter of fact I did find an obit for myself. Died after a lingering coma. Fortunately, it's not a problem, because being brain dead is not an impediment to my line of work. Yes, I'm sorry, please feel free to re-apply when you're not dead. Goodbye."
Re:Bad News (Score:5, Funny)
Re:ID information available to the public (Score:5, Funny)
If you are afraid of forgetting your passwords and to remember passwords like "d8u*mF@3KowcCR", use an encrypted password keeper.
Shit, now I have to change all my passwords AGAIN, just like after someone else posted my old one, 09:F9:11:02:9D:74:E3:5B:D8:41:56:C5:63:56:88:C0
Re:Facebook (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Bad News (Score:1, Funny)
It doesn't matter what Google says, he's not dead until NetCraft confirms it.
Re:Bad News (Score:5, Funny)
I think we've all made the "mistake" of linking a pseudonym to our given name at some point. Im posting as AC because I can't figure out how to log in on this terminal, but my real name is Jason Levine
Re:Bad News (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Bad News (Score:3, Funny)
Well, if google says you're dead three times, who am I to claim otherwise?
Isn't that the standard at Wikipedia?
If you want real privacy (Score:4, Funny)
I don't usually have these problems. Just use someone else's identity, bank account, gmail etc, and you're set.
well howdy! (Score:2, Funny)
Ezekiel Running Bear, is that you?
Re:Bad News (Score:3, Funny)
It's already taken for granted that actors, writers, porn stars, prostitutes, and Indian call centre staff will use a fake name for work - why not everyone else?
Hi. I'm Bob.
Re:Bad News (Score:3, Funny)
Google schmoogle. Did you check netcraft?