This article from computer weekly at http://tinyurl.com/y6634k made me
think. It's brief and speaks of being able to identify and track a person
down from details given in a chatroom
It is as relevant to us as professionals as it is to us as individuals and
parents, though it is mildly off topic (something for which I make no
apology)
It is not that "the internet is a dangerous place", it is that some
individuals we meet in life are weirdos. Even so, in areas like internet
chatrooms where we do not have any idea who the other people are, it is
excellent practice to reveal nothing whatsoever.
It is woefully easy to track people down. I proved this to an online
acquaintance some years ago by taking 30 minutes to give her two alternate
addresses in her town where she lived. She lived at one of them.
In another case I had a flash of insight and told a similar acquaintance
what school he had attended, and he then told me by return who had been best
man at my wedding.
We leave traces when we least expect it. Our children leave stronger traces
because they are inexperienced. While the world is not full of people
wishing to abuse us or our kids, this article is food for thought.
On this list we know (or expect) every participant to have a genuine
identity and a professional purpose. On more casual "places" online this is
absolutely not the case.
Tim Trent - Consultant
Direct: +44(0)1344 392644 Mobile:+44(0)7710 126618
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