Internet, Anonymity and You

Guybrush · 12-03-2009, 06:07 AM

Hey guys!

I was wondering, what do you guys think about internet and anonymity? Do you ever worry that people can find out information about who you are, where you live, what your phonenumber and income is and so on or don't you care?

I used to not care until I quite harmlessly posted some numbers on the population size of norwegian minke whales in a discussion on whaling. Afterwards, some guy wrote me a private message saying he would hunt me down and kill me and my family. The threat didn't scare me (much at least), but I'll admit I was quite shocked that someone would write something like that to me over something as factual and cold as population numbers. It's the kind of stuff that makes you lose faith in humanity a little and reminds you that the net is full of complete psychos.

Since then, I've been a bit more aware. For example I never got involved in a discussion like that again. I've also been a little more concious about staying anoymous on internet forums. Take my full name for example, I don't share it with that many norwegians. If someone knows where I live, they could narrow it down quite easily. For that reason, I try not to leave trails on the internet which could lead back to me although I have left a couple of pictures up here and so on (might have to delete those btw!!).

Not saying I don't trust you guys and I'm sure this might inspire a few jokes but

what do you guys think? Anyone have similar experiences?

Zarko · 12-03-2009, 06:56 AM

Just on the minke thing, was it a PM through the website, I am guessing obviously? Were you supporting an argument or refuting? Just interested in all.

I'm too lazy to care, as my MB forum name might suggest.

noise · 12-03-2009, 06:56 AM

it's impossible to stay anonymous on the internet. you may have heard of the things that 4chan members have done to people - in a manner of hours, they can track down telephone numbers, home addresses, schools, and more from just a few small seeds of information.

then there are the sites that most people don't know about... my friend works as a private investigator in the US, and with a social security number, he can get instant access to credit histories, address histories, known associations, bank accounts... the works. these are private subscription sites that are not open to the general public, but this information is out there nonetheless.

just googling your user name i know you're a 20-something student from Oslo, studying arctic terrestrial invertebrates. your Flickr account has a picture of a van with a visible license plate number along with several pictures of you, plus full names of people whose photos you uploaded (friends perhaps?). your blog also gives full names of several colleagues. googling their names brings up UNIS - is that where you go to school? i could go on, but i guess i've proven my point...

it's a small world out there, and anyone can access it without having to step foot outside. be careful!

Fruitonica · 12-03-2009, 07:24 AM

Actually it probably wouldn't be too hard to track me down if someone wanted to, although I'm not sure how they'd go about it. The details of my life are pretty non-descript, nothing you could easily narrow down. Unless I've told anyone here my full name, which I'd probably hold off on.

I generally don't think about it, I've never been in any situation which made me think about what I was putting out there.

Guybrush · 12-03-2009, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noise

just googling your user name i know you're a 20-something student from Oslo, studying arctic terrestrial invertebrates. your Flickr account has a picture of a van with a visible license plate number along with several pictures of you, plus full names of people whose photos you uploaded (friends perhaps?). your blog also gives full names of several colleagues. googling their names brings up UNIS - is that where you go to school? i could go on, but i guess i've proven my point...

Yeah, I know. These are things I'm aware I share with the world. Still, it doesn't say my full name or where I live, although I'm sure it's possible to find it somewhere. Also, you may be able to find pictures of me outside musicbanter, but if so, I think I'm in pictures with several people and you shouldn't immediately know who's who I think .. at least I don't think I'm sharing any pictures with the world that say "Here I am! This is me!"

But yeah, information is real easy to dig up. Maybe I should change my username.

Mojo · 12-03-2009, 07:56 AM

I try to be as smart as i can about it but really theres no way to comnpletely avoid i dont think. I have Myspace and Facebook accounts but even though i use my privacy settings and don't put any personal information ie phone numbers and address on there because of those and various other sites theres too much information about me out there if people really were determined to get to it.

I also tried to practice anonymity on this site too but thats all gone to hell.

noise · 12-03-2009, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toretorden

Yeah, I know. These are things I'm aware I share with the world. Still, it doesn't say my full name or where I live, although I'm sure it's possible to find it somewhere.

actually you do give your fill name and home town on your blog

Guybrush · 12-03-2009, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noise

actually you do give your fill name and home town on your blog

Yeah, I found it too after my last post

Furthermore, no domain owners are really anonymous I found.

It's almost depressing how easy it is to find out details about me on the net.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fruitonica

The details of my life are pretty non-descript, nothing you could easily narrow down.

Some of the details of my life are somewhat distinct like I'm studying arctic invertebrates so I guess I'm the opposite.

NSW · 12-03-2009, 08:18 AM

Just for kicks I googled my user name (noise sparked my curiosity) and thankfully not too much came up. Mostly a bunch of Christian websites talking about the virtues of being a submissive wife...lol.

Sure, if you're on the internet actively and people really want to dig up something about you, they are going to find away. But I think being discreet discourages people from wanting to do that. I'm amazed sometimes at the amount of information people are willing to share on this website alone.

noise · 12-03-2009, 08:19 AM

this is why it's good to use different usernames wherever you go. i don't use 'noise' anyplace else. plus it's just a word, so it wouldn't be any use searching it in google...

12-03-2009, 06:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	Internet, Anonymity and You Hey guys! I was wondering, what do you guys think about internet and anonymity? Do you ever worry that people can find out information about who you are, where you live, what your phonenumber and income is and so on or don't you care? I used to not care until I quite harmlessly posted some numbers on the population size of norwegian minke whales in a discussion on whaling. Afterwards, some guy wrote me a private message saying he would hunt me down and kill me and my family. The threat didn't scare me (much at least), but I'll admit I was quite shocked that someone would write something like that to me over something as factual and cold as population numbers. It's the kind of stuff that makes you lose faith in humanity a little and reminds you that the net is full of complete psychos. Since then, I've been a bit more aware. For example I never got involved in a discussion like that again. I've also been a little more concious about staying anoymous on internet forums. Take my full name for example, I don't share it with that many norwegians. If someone knows where I live, they could narrow it down quite easily. For that reason, I try not to leave trails on the internet which could lead back to me although I have left a couple of pictures up here and so on (might have to delete those btw!!). Not saying I don't trust you guys and I'm sure this might inspire a few jokes but what do you guys think? Anyone have similar experiences? __________________ Something Completely Different

12-03-2009, 06:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
noise thirsty ears Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Boulder Posts: 742	it's impossible to stay anonymous on the internet. you may have heard of the things that 4chan members have done to people - in a manner of hours, they can track down telephone numbers, home addresses, schools, and more from just a few small seeds of information. then there are the sites that most people don't know about... my friend works as a private investigator in the US, and with a social security number, he can get instant access to credit histories, address histories, known associations, bank accounts... the works. these are private subscription sites that are not open to the general public, but this information is out there nonetheless. just googling your user name i know you're a 20-something student from Oslo, studying arctic terrestrial invertebrates. your Flickr account has a picture of a van with a visible license plate number along with several pictures of you, plus full names of people whose photos you uploaded (friends perhaps?). your blog also gives full names of several colleagues. googling their names brings up UNIS - is that where you go to school? i could go on, but i guess i've proven my point... it's a small world out there, and anyone can access it without having to step foot outside. be careful! __________________ my flac collection

12-03-2009, 07:56 AM	#6 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	I try to be as smart as i can about it but really theres no way to comnpletely avoid i dont think. I have Myspace and Facebook accounts but even though i use my privacy settings and don't put any personal information ie phone numbers and address on there because of those and various other sites theres too much information about me out there if people really were determined to get to it. I also tried to practice anonymity on this site too but thats all gone to hell. __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

12-03-2009, 08:18 AM	#9 (permalink)
NSW Bigger and Better Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas girl living in the UK Posts: 2,596	Just for kicks I googled my user name (noise sparked my curiosity) and thankfully not too much came up. Mostly a bunch of Christian websites talking about the virtues of being a submissive wife...lol. Sure, if you're on the internet actively and people really want to dig up something about you, they are going to find away. But I think being discreet discourages people from wanting to do that. I'm amazed sometimes at the amount of information people are willing to share on this website alone. __________________ Hi.

12-03-2009, 08:19 AM	#10 (permalink)
noise thirsty ears Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Boulder Posts: 742	this is why it's good to use different usernames wherever you go. i don't use 'noise' anyplace else. plus it's just a word, so it wouldn't be any use searching it in google... __________________ my flac collection

12-03-2009, 06:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
Zarko Barely Disheveled Zombie Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 1,196	Just on the minke thing, was it a PM through the website, I am guessing obviously? Were you supporting an argument or refuting? Just interested in all. I'm too lazy to care, as my MB forum name might suggest.

12-03-2009, 07:24 AM	#4 (permalink)
Fruitonica Pale and Wan Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Aus Posts: 917	Actually it probably wouldn't be too hard to track me down if someone wanted to, although I'm not sure how they'd go about it. The details of my life are pretty non-descript, nothing you could easily narrow down. Unless I've told anyone here my full name, which I'd probably hold off on. I generally don't think about it, I've never been in any situation which made me think about what I was putting out there.