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What Web Surfers Can Find Out About You

Posted by kdawson on from the private-first-class dept.

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.

19 of 234 comments (clear)

  1. Furthermore by Anonymous Coward · · 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.

  2. they found that by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Anonymous coward was the first to respond here

  3. Bad News by El+Torico · · Score: 5, Funny

    I googled my name and found 3 obituaries.

    --
    In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is usually crucified.
    1. Re:Bad News by Mr.+Sketch · · Score: 4, Funny

      Well, if google says you're dead three times, who am I to claim otherwise?

      --
      Things you think are in the Constitution, but are not.
    2. Re:Bad News by morgan_greywolf · · 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!

      --
      My blog
    3. Re:Bad News by siriuskase · · Score: 2, Funny

      What's the big deal? Just because you are now dead doesn't mean you never had a life or three.

      --
      If you must moderate, please moderate as irrelevent, not something bad, because I'm sure someone will find this interest
    4. Re:Bad News by geobeck · · 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."

      --
      Find environmentally and socially responsible products on http://buy-right.net
    5. Re:Bad News by LandDolphin · · Score: 4, Funny

      Or can't still vote!

      --
      Spelling and Grammar errors have been added to this post for your enjoyment
    6. Re:Bad News by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      It doesn't matter what Google says, he's not dead until NetCraft confirms it.

    7. Re:Bad News by Anonymous Coward · · 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

    8. Re:Bad News by ccady · · Score: 5, Funny

      I got better.

      --
      J'aime mieux les méchants que les imbéciles, parce qu'ils se reposent. -- Alexandre Dumas
    9. Re:Bad News by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 2, 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 news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
    10. Re:Bad News by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      I took my anonymity a step further and have pseudonyms for real life, too - the name I use for work is not my real name. It seems to be the only way to have a fully private Private Life.

      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.

    11. Re:Bad News by Hognoxious · · Score: 2, Funny

      if google says you're dead three times, who am I to claim otherwise?

      Google schmoogle. Did you check netcraft?

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  4. Search all you want by MarkusQ · · Score: 5, Funny

    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.

    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.

  5. Re:ID information available to the public by s.bots · · Score: 4, 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

  6. Re:Facebook by Hashi+Lebwohl · · Score: 2, Funny

    I have the same problem. My name is Jesus, and I registered using DOB of 25/12/01, and now absolutely everyone thinks it's my real birthday. Sheesh, as if shepherds would be out shepheding in the middle of winter. Some people....really.

    --
    I'm in to sadism, bestiality and necrophilia. Am I flogging a dead horse?
  7. If you want real privacy by extrasolar · · Score: 3, Funny

    I don't usually have these problems. Just use someone else's identity, bank account, gmail etc, and you're set.

  8. well howdy! by zogger · · Score: 2, Funny

    Ezekiel Running Bear, is that you?