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What Web Surfers Can Find Out About You
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.
I have complained about this crap for years to my credit card companies, phone companies, mortgage company, and even my college. How can they claim to protect your account information when their verification questions are all publicly available information? (In the case of the colleges, students are often asked to sign in for roll or exams using a social security number, and that sheet is either passed around or otherwise completely viewable.)
At least some allow you to select a special pass phrase. Only one of my vendors will not allow me access to the account if I do not provide the pass phrase. Every one else has a way around that.
Security. Pfah.
Check it out, you will all be surprised what it will find:
http://www.pipl.com/
If I had an Ass, I'd call it Fanny Bottom, then I could slap my Ass; Fanny Bottom, on the Arse.