topic Re: Contributing to our own loss of privacy in Community Chat

Contributing to our own loss of privacy

Moonchilde — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 20:29:04 GMT

This is not to single out anyone who may have started any of these threads, or similar threads. It's just to point out what many do unwittingly that reveals personally identifiable things about themselves that could, in the wrong hands for the wrong reasons be setting themselves up for identity theft, social media hacking and other schemes to part you from your privacy, your money or your identity.

We all see first hand, and hear about, phishing and other email scams with people trying to get our info. We say I'll never do this or that online, I'll never give out MY info.

Within the first few pages of a couple of forums are threads titled:

- What color are your eyes
- Do you have a birthmark
- What age group do you fall into
- Do you pay bills online or write a check
- Does anyone file with H&R Block online
- What do you like to collect
- How many RR Xings on your commute
- Right-handed or left-handed
- What time do you eat dinner

Individually, not much. Silly to worry about some of these, right? But if a data miner wanted to (some people earn a living or a 'bounty' doing it) - People post where they live, when they go on vacation, many other bits of info, and the threads above plus many others. These were just 3-4 days worth. "You" could be deciphered between what's public record searchable knowledge and what's posted here.

I'm not paranoid. I do much more online than many people posting here say they would ever do. I'm not saying all the people who start such threads have nefarious purposes. I'm just saying - without even thinking about it, look what WE put "out there" that we can't blame on "bad internet", "bad FB", "Bad Twitter", etc. WE did it. We shold own that up, and maybe think twice about what we say online. Many won't care - I don't care that much - but I'm beginning to see that many maybe should notice and start to care.

Re: Contributing to our own loss of privacy

SaRina — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 20:36:55 GMT

ITA @Moonchilde.There has been a more recent poster who seems to be fond of starting canvassing-type threads. Interestingly, this poster stopped posting under her/his nic at the same time a new nic appeared around here with the same type of canvassing questions.

I don't usually notice stuff like this -- I am not a detective here... nor do I care to be -- but this poster has been so obvious even to me.

Re: Contributing to our own loss of privacy

ShowMe — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 20:36:46 GMT

@Moonchilde......very good thread. We really don't think when we are giving out some of the information you mentioned. When you get down to the realness of this, you are so right.....we need to be very careful.

Re: Contributing to our own loss of privacy

golding76 — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 20:39:59 GMT

This is a very sage post, Moonchilde. After too many "small potato" posts of personal information, a mosaic can be created from your data and that found for free online..

My antennae have been up, and at times I think I reveal too much. However, what I reveal is typically my reaction to or opinion of something rather than my characteristics or habits.

Like you, I do not think that most who visit this forum have sinister motives, but there could be someone out there who exploits information mined here.

Re: Contributing to our own loss of privacy

Q4u — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 20:41:38 GMT

I agree with everything you said, however these forums are private to QVC and need a password to participate (not infalliable). Which means that the information provided here isn't immediately available to the World Wide Web. Granted, we still need to be careful as anyone can register and participate but having a password to participate is far better than raw info being disseminated to the entire web .... but certainly something to always keep in mind no matter where we're discussing.....

Thanks for your thoughtful reminder....

Re: Contributing to our own loss of privacy

missy1 — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 20:42:09 GMT

I didn't answer one of them. Well, I did with collecting things. (Dust and dog hair!)

I don't share my age, location, and answer questions like those.

Re: Contributing to our own loss of privacy

SoX — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 20:43:00 GMT

I learned early on to never respond to, or participate in these types of threads. It used to be even worse some years back ... before the old board was replaced with this one.

We saw posters go after other posters with information they "culled" ... just from seemingly innocent responses.

Re: Contributing to our own loss of privacy

BalletBabe — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 20:43:17 GMT

@Moonchilde Excellent post and it sure will make me think of future postings! Thank You!

Re: Contributing to our own loss of privacy

chickenbutt — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 20:43:39 GMT

Not long ago I also saw one that was 'what is your mother's name'. I was just waiting for the one asking what your mother's maiden name is.

Re: Contributing to our own loss of privacy

Love my grandkids — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 20:47:25 GMT

Moonchilde, I could NOT agree more! I never ever respond to that stuff.

It's no one's business and I am suspect of people who want to know this kind of thing about people they don't know.

To the person who thinks the info on QVC is private: As for this info being private to QVC, have you never heard of hacking? Look at all the big businesses that have been hacked.

If it could happen to them, it could happen here. Better safe than sorry!

Nope, it's no one's business what hand I use, what color my eyes are, or anything else

Re: Contributing to our own loss of privacy

golding76 — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 20:44:22 GMT

Q4U, I don't know if this still happens, but in years past, I have googled a topic that is QVC-related, and up pops my forum comment on that topic. Maybe new policies have prevented this from still happening.

I don't recall what the topic was, but there were my words on the Internet.

Re: Contributing to our own loss of privacy

Moonchilde — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 20:45:10 GMT

@chickenbutt wrote:
Not long ago I also saw one that was 'what is your mother's name'. I was just waiting for the one asking what your mother's maiden name is.

I swear, @chickenbutt, I was too! There probably has been one and we've forgotten it.

Re: Contributing to our own loss of privacy

cherry — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 20:45:24 GMT

There was even one asking if you carried a balance on your credit card. Who needs to know that, or who would even care?

Re: Contributing to our own loss of privacy

BalletBabe — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 20:45:26 GMT

@Q4u Nothing you put on the internet is private. Hackers can get into anything.

Re: Contributing to our own loss of privacy

silentgirl — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 20:46:26 GMT

All valid points-

I've had an internet presence for years and have actually physically met hundreds of people from the few websites we've been involved with-fortunately, good people.

Unfortunately, any traceable presence is mostly do to the work I've done-I suppose if someone is going to search that hard they're going to be successful at something-

How many have actually paid to have a search done on themselves? The amount of information is frightening-

Though I would always suggest that no one share their location-when they are traveling, where they work, or the hours they work, nor would I mention children, it is a good reminder to be more careful.

Re: Contributing to our own loss of privacy

JaneMarple — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 20:46:34 GMT

@Moonchilde I totally agree with you, I've felt uneasy about these questions for a long time. Facebook usage,paying credit cards in full, paying bills by check or online, mother's first name etc.

Has it occurred to anyone that all of these questions and answers are being collected?

Re: Contributing to our own loss of privacy

chickenbutt — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 20:47:23 GMT

Moonchilde wrote:
chickenbutt wrote:
Not long ago I also saw one that was 'what is your mother's name'. I was just waiting for the one asking what your mother's maiden name is.

I swear, @chickenbutt, I was too! There probably has been one and we've forgotten it.

I was just shocked at how many people actually gave out that info!

Sure, I play some of it but I have a line that I tend to follow.

One question on one of my accounts is 'what is your favorite hobby'. Well, you just KNOW that one has been asked here.

I tend to think about stuff like 'what are security questions that my accounts ask to keep me safer' and those are things I don't discuss.

Re: Contributing to our own loss of privacy

SaRina — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 20:47:48 GMT

@Q4u wrote:
I agree with everything you said, however these forums are private to QVC and need a password to participate (not infalliable). Which means that the information provided here isn't immediately available to the World Wide Web. Granted, we still need to be careful as anyone can register and participate but having a password to participate is far better than raw info being disseminated to the entire web .... but certainly something to always keep in mind no matter where we're discussing.....

Thanks for your thoughtful reminder....

@I could be mistaken @Q4u, but I believe any thread here is on view for all to see, anywhere. If you google certain topics, a QVC thread may come up as a site to click on.

Anyone?

Re: Contributing to our own loss of privacy

BalletBabe — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 20:47:54 GMT

@chickenbutt Do you believe on facebook someone asked me what my Mothers maiden name was? Just last week. I said sorry I do not give information out like that online.

Re: Contributing to our own loss of privacy

esmeraldagooch — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 20:49:01 GMT

I thought the same thing last week with the What is your mothers name thread. Many times people are asked some of the questions on your list as secret words to keep your interent accounts secure.

Another forum here also has had threads about how to store your jewelry. Oh yes, I have a Lori Granier mirror jewelry case filled with XYZ and Colleen Lopez jewelry keepers stacked in my closet....