Is social networking safe?

[Eddie Dane]

I'm being prompted from all sides to join Lindekin, Facebook, Orkut and a million other social networking sites.

Many people join without thinking about the security implications, but I have doubts.

Please note: I'm not just talking about "predators" looking for children or rapist trying meet victims

I suspect that even basic information can be used to be joined with data from other sources and used for ID theft.

Here's some of the data that the sites require: correct date of birth, location, full name.
Obviously your old schoolmates and army buddies need some basics to locate you within the database. But I'm reluctant to give out even this information.

Let alone: race, political affiliation, religion.
Or: hight, hair colour, colour eyes, skin colour (information used in passports and such)

Am I being paranoid? Can I use these sites with a minimum of data?
Isn't giving out personal information a really bad idea that is treated way too lightly?

 

[Wudang]

As you can see I'm a terrible typist and frequently make the most basic errors typing my DOB.

 

[lionking]

In the immortal words of Larry Ellison: "You have no privacy. Get over it". Probably hundreds of organisations and web sites have identifying information about me, what's a few more......

 

[Seren_]

You are not that paranoid, there is already people using what can be found on social network site to fake IDs. Typically if you have a phone service linked to your bank account, the vocal server ask for your name and DOB to confirm your identity.

Another issue is recruiter logging into social network sites (or just typing your name in Google) before an interview. It can be damning if you are member of the " I hate my boss" or "slacker united" groups, etc. ( And I don't even talk about political, religious affiliation, etc.)

I use Facebook, but I put as few personal information as possible and I do not make my profile avaibale to all, only to my network of friends: if you do not know me, I don't see why you should have access to private informations.

 

[0m3g4]

Isn't giving out personal information a really bad idea that is treated way too lightly?

You are completely right. Of course, in social networks the bottom line is: They depend on you personal information. As you said, without them, nobody can find you. For me it's a good reason not to use them. Nothing published in the internet can be removed again. And in your case, please be aware, that networks based in the United States generally don't work under European privacy restrictions. I don't know the current laws but at least some years ago they were allowed to do pretty much everything with your data.

 

[Soapy Sam]

Is anything safe, these days?

I think some people are very careless about the personal data they put in blogs, but actually going down the pub is probably more risky. You might get a bad pint.
(Often the seventh in my experience, but numerology is frowned on here).

 

[Tsukasa Buddha]

The only personal info I give is my favorite movies and books .

 

[Safe-Keeper]

I'm on Facebook. I use a fake name, I don't let people search for my profile, and it's only open to my friends. I still take great care to not post political or religious statements and to keep everything strictly social. I do have a picture up, though, after a long time of hesitation.

I'd use YouHide more, too, if it was more functional. As it is, many web sites don't work with it.