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Best Way To Clear Your Name Online?

An anonymous reader writes "About fifteen years ago, I did something that I've come to regret on a university computer system. I was subsequently interviewed by a Federal law enforcement agency, although no charges were pressed and I have no criminal record as a result of my actions. At the time, I discussed the matter with a friend of mine who went on to mention it briefly in a text file zine with a small distribution list. I've generally tried to keep a low profile online and until recently there's been very little information about me available from the major search engines. Unfortunately, that zine mention was picked up by textfiles.com at some point and mirrored across the world. I've tried to address this with the owner of the site, but couldn't get anywhere. Even if my name in the source file is altered, cached copies will continue to link me with my youthful mistake. Have any other Slashdot readers had a similar experience? What practical steps would your readers recommend to prevent this information from hurting me? I am concerned that future employers may hold my past actions against me should they look for me online as part of their screening process."

8 of 888 comments (clear)

  1. On reflection... by Zocalo · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...posting the fact to a site where a good deal of the readership's instinctive reaction to the posting of sensitive information on the Internet is to find and mirror it in as many locations as possible is probably not the best first step. See "Streisand Effect". Then again, if you are just pretending to be the subject of the text in order to humiliate the actual victim even further, then I tip my hat to you sir. Bravo!

    --
    UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
  2. Re:Not keeping low profile? by jason.sweet · · Score: 5, Funny

    Start a blog and claim you had sex with Tiger Woods. Those old references will be buried so far in the search, it will just like it never happened.

  3. Suggestion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just hack into the server hosting the offending item and... oh wait.

  4. Well first... by Hognoxious · · Score: 5, Funny

    First[1], you need to invent a time machine. Then you travel back in time and either convince your former self not to do it or you kill all the witnesses and destroy all the evidence.

    [1] You can actually do it last, if you like. Or in the middle. Whenever. It is a time machine, after[2] all.
    [2] Or before all. It is a time machine, after[3] all.
    [3] Or before all. It is stack overflow near line 5. Bailing

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  5. Re:Not keeping low profile? by zarthrag · · Score: 5, Funny

    Barbra? is that you?

    --
    Why can't all fpga/microcontroller manufacturers just release free optimizing compilers???
  6. Re:welleee by Gorobei · · Score: 5, Funny

    No, just explain and they will typically understand. For example, my minor youporn issue was ignored by my current employer once I demonstrated that the whole goat thing was a result of misleading camera angles.

  7. Re:The best thing you can do is post on /. by Hurricane78 · · Score: 5, Funny

    And that’s not all. In five minutes he will have had a rape party with a dozen monkeys while wearing a Borat style “swimsuit”, stilettos and a huge assblaster in 2004. ^^

    --
    Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
  8. Re:you bet I've had similar concerns by Gribflex · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'd speak to your Doctor. I imagine you can get a prescription that will be covered by your insurance. Way easier than 'a friend of a friend' trying to find illegal ways of getting it under your name.