| There is already a lot being said about malware | | | | have gained motor vehicle registration information |
| (Trojans, viruses, worms, etc.) and attempts to | | | | (which includes full name, address, VIN, driver's license |
| obtain your cash, personal identity, usernames and | | | | number and date of birth) through the vehicle license |
| passwords through various frauds and phishing | | | | plate information found in one particular picture. There |
| schemes. While this is crucial information to have, | | | | are unscrupulous sellers on the Internet who will |
| practically nothing is being written about the | | | | provide this information instantly to anyone with a |
| tremendous amount of personal information pouring | | | | credit card.In completing my cursory internet profile, I |
| onto the Internet through the careless use of blogs | | | | "Googled" the blogger's name, which returned nothing |
| and photo album services. In these popular new | | | | except for the blog, but when I searched on the |
| Internet outlets there exists a dangerous opportunity | | | | email address I obtained via the URL's WHOIS |
| for predatory criminals; bloggers may in fact be | | | | registration, I found her eBay identity, an entire |
| fueling the fire and opportunity that these monsters | | | | UseNet newsgroup identity (which I am MOST sure |
| need to commit their crimes!To reinforce my | | | | that she wishes to keep VERY private since she did |
| statement I would love to point out one shining | | | | a good job maintaining her anonymity there) and a |
| example I stumbled across a week ago and illustrate | | | | few other interesting morsels of information too |
| how one particular blogger has put her entire family in | | | | bizarre even to mention.It would not take the mental |
| jeopardy. In the interest of their safety however, I | | | | muscle of an evil genius to gather just a little bit of |
| am not going to identify the particular blog. I will | | | | information to make this family's location, identity, |
| however, relate to you what I saw so that you may | | | | and habits, readily discernable. What horror would |
| learn from her mistakes then take an objective look | | | | befall them then if someone were so inclined to |
| at your own online presence and determine if | | | | cause them harm?There are several things she should |
| changes need to be made.The name of her site was | | | | do differently. First, use good ol' common sense, |
| something whimsical like "The Smith Family | | | | there is no greater substitute! Change the title and |
| Blogosphere of Happiness" and the blog had its own | | | | the URL address of her blog and remove her family's |
| URL- " This blogger was obviously dedicated! There | | | | last name. She can use a "proxy" or private |
| were many pictures in the online photo album of | | | | registration service to maintain her URL with the |
| blogger, her husband and beautiful children in various | | | | registrar. She should use generic file names for her |
| activities both at home and at school. She obviously | | | | pictures that do not identify the people in them and |
| put a lot of thought into the numerous blog entries | | | | obscure identifiers in the photos like the license plate |
| about various subjects: family vacations; the usual | | | | and the school name on the uniforms too. She |
| ups and downs that she and her husband have at | | | | shouldn't discuss the identity of her employer; if it is |
| work and raising their children; how she felt about | | | | important, then refer to it in a generic manner such |
| some issues in her community and anything else that | | | | as "I work at an auto parts store." She certainly |
| seemed to cross her mind. It was a typical | | | | should not be advertising when and where she will be |
| non-commercial blog.No big deal right? Wrong... in | | | | vacationing in the future. Lastly, she should use a |
| terms of personal security this blog was a | | | | free (and anonymous) email address to post to |
| nightmare.The first thing I noticed was that she | | | | newsgroups... especially when anyone may blush at |
| identifies her last name in the title of her blog. A | | | | the more than casual reference to her sexual |
| quick trip to the WHOIS database verified that her | | | | inclinations.I realize that you cannot avoid all risk in life, |
| URL was registered publicly and identified the blogger | | | | but the bottom line is if you participate in the online |
| by name, home address, private email address and | | | | world, you will have to bear the risk of a certain |
| home phone number.She did a good job at | | | | amount of exposure and be prepared to address the |
| referencing her children in her blog posts as "the | | | | issues that are part and parcel with sharing personal |
| oldest boy," "our youngest son," or "my daughter" | | | | information on the Internet. Additionally, I concede |
| but she mistakenly names most of the picture's | | | | that this blog was without a commercial purpose; out |
| filenames after them (i.e. janes_xmas.jpg, | | | | of necessity one often has to share personal |
| johns_new_bike.jpg or john_and_jim.jpg); anyone | | | | identifying information when running an online |
| can tell who's who and put a face to a name.Most | | | | business. It simply goes along with the territory.I |
| horrifically, the kids are in athletic uniforms with the | | | | hope that you will take a critical look at your own |
| name of the school emblazoned across the front; | | | | online identity right now. Ask yourself, "Am I |
| knowing each child's name, what they look like and | | | | absolutely comfortable with what I have found?" If |
| the name of their school in conjunction with the | | | | you are not, then resolve to do something about it |
| address I obtained through the WHOIS record would | | | | today because someone else may stumble across |
| allow me to find these particular children at school | | | | your little corner of the Internet and decide to find |
| very easily.While she only references her husband by | | | | you tomorrow. Unfortunately, this is reality.Have a |
| his first name it isn't much of a stretch to put it with | | | | safe and prosperous new year in 2006!L. Scott Harrell |
| her last name to reveal his identity. She describes | | | | is a private investigator and principal of CompassPoint |
| both of their positions at work and names their | | | | Investigations, an investigative agency with offices in |
| employers. I even found a post referencing a | | | | the Southeast United States specializing in the |
| vacation they were all taking in Acapulco, Mexico in | | | | prevention of fraud, theft and embezzlement within |
| December. The post was written in October.I could | | | | small to medium-sized businesses. |