When I post to a newsgroup I use an alias email address. In this I included 
part of the name of the area where I was living until recently.

In a particular international genealogical newsgroup, where, in fact, 
subscribers are required to supply their actual identity (people are tracing 
possible family connections and anonymity would be counterproductive as far 
as genealogy is concerned) so I was signed as

Nick Landau
London, UK

asked me if I lived in this particular area. Indeed I did and I go round to 
her house for tea! Fortunately the contact did not result in web rage.

But this particular newsgroup would link my newsgroup alias email address to 
my name - and it wouldn't be difficult to locate me.

In another group which was a small international community it became clear 
that one of the posters knew something about me from comments that she made. 
Subsequently when she defamed me in the group I became seriously worried - I 
thought that it put me at some risk ascribing views to me which I didn't 
hold. When I flew to the US earlier this year I had no problem in entering - 
which was a concern.

When I respond privately to members of a newsgroup after a short while I 
will use my ordinary email address which will reveal my actual identity. 
Then, if the person so choose they could reveal this or other confidential 
information to other subscribers to the group.

I have so far left 3 groups in which the animosity and vituperation I 
couldn't stick.

Nick Landau

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tim Trent" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 11:00 AM
Subject: [data-protection] Online Identity Protection


> 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
> email: [log in to unmask]
> <blocked::mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> Marketing Improvement Limited, Abbey House, Grenville Place, Bracknell,
> United Kingdom, RG12 1BP <blocked::http://www.marketingimprovement.com/>
> http://www.marketingimprovement.com
>
>
>
>
>
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