Privacy and anonymity

[expat]

Privacy is not the same thing as anonymity. Interesting article. What are peoples thoughts. I lean towards privacy more than anonymity, though I do hate having to give personal details over the WWW if I want a service or product. Giving it to a real person makes me feel better, even though they could use said information. As for anonymity, if your use of the web is legal, why would you need it?

Matt

[WebbPA]

Since Google doesn't respect privacy anonymity is the only way to force it to.

[Hagar]

Very odd. The Internet is based on the illusion of anonymity. Take this forum for example, most members post under assumed names & don't reveal their true identities. It's all a mystery to me but I'm sure anyone with sufficient knowledge could easily find out who they are.

[Fozzer]

Very odd. The Internet is based on the illusion of anonymity. Take this forum for example, most members post under assumed names & don't reveal their true identities. It's all a mystery to me but I'm sure anyone with sufficient knowledge could easily find out who they are.

The opposite is true for me...

I tend to give far too much (private) information about myself on Forums such as this....
...and then get concerned when copies of it immediately appear in the Google Search Engine, for the rest of the World to see.... ....!
...and there is absolutely no way to remove them.

U-Tube is a typical, uncontrolled, example. Anyone can take a video of you, and post it in U-Tube, together with unfavourable comments by the poster, and in the the post replies!
U-tube can become a Nightmare!
Unfortunately, we cant pick and choose who we reveal ourselves to on the Internet... ....!
Private Messages, and E-Mail, is probably the most secure. Everything we publish on the Internet remains there for ever and ever!
A frightening thought!.... ...!

Paul...In "Invisibility Mode"...(I wish!).... 8-)...!

[machineman9]

Very odd. The Internet is based on the illusion of anonymity. Take this forum for example, most members post under assumed names & don't reveal their true identities. It's all a mystery to me but I'm sure anyone with sufficient knowledge could easily find out who they are.

A few days ago someone mentioned they did photography, but I couldn't find a link to their website. However, I was able to find contact information on their profile, was able to find their Facebook account and from there I was able to find their photography website. I now know their real name too, if I ever need to remind them of it. It's all perfectly within all our bounds to do this, and the information is freely available.

The key is to never share a single detail. The only 'secure way' to browse, is to not browse at all.

[Hagar]

A few days ago someone mentioned they did photography, but I couldn't find a link to their website. However, I was able to find contact information on their profile, was able to find their Facebook account and from there I was able to find their photography website. I now know their real name too, if I ever need to remind them of it. It's all perfectly within all our bounds to do this, and the information is freely available.

Most people are easily traced if you know how. Government agencies would have no problem at all. Since you mentioned it I think the popularity of 'social networking' sites like Facebook is the biggest threat to anonymity.

The key is to never share a single detail. The only 'secure way' to browse, is to not browse at all.

Precisely. Some years ago I visited a website run by an old friend I hadn't seen for years & left a message in the guestbook. I then posted a message about it on this forum. I was rather surprised when he mailed me & mentioned he'd read my comments on this forum. When I asked him how he knew about it he said that any webmaster can do that if they wish.

[machineman9]

Most people are easily traced if you know how. Government agencies would have no problem at all. Since you mentioned it I think the popularity of 'social networking' sites like Facebook is the biggest threat to anonymity.

The government can do plenty. They can probably find out who you are from your IP address, which is only otherwise limited to your ISP (or you, if you go and announce it yourself). As for the rest of us, knowing an IP is usually as vague as knowing which country someone lives in. There used to be quite a paranoia that knowing an IP address will let the world know where you live, but my IP address would tell the world that I live in London... I even have it posted on SimV that I live in Nantwich, just to prove how inaccurate some data can be. Of course, if you're my ISP or the government, that data could easily tell you the house I live in. Should we be worried? No, not if we're sticking to the rules.

All social networking is a problem. Some people leave a status saying exactly where they are going and at what times. They probably weren't ever taught 'COMSEC'. Of course, it's entirely possible to be safe(r) online. Just use private messages to send information (unless the webmaster of said site is a stalker, you should be okay) or just don't release that information at all. It's unlikely that a webmaster would ever read private mail, except in the instance where it breaches a law/Terms of service... So it's fair safer bet than telling the whole world who you and where you live.

[Steve M]

I would add to this discusion that RIM's Blackberry social apps were nearly banned in at least 4 countries this month because because RIM's encryption process does not allow governments to moniter its chatter. RIM, "Research In Motion" the makers of Blackberry phones, has its own servers and its own software, unlike Apple or Google. RIM has ended up agreeing to place a server in Saudi Arabia that will allow them to monitor online trafic. Several countries have expressed concern about RIMs encription policies. So... when they can't track you they really get upset about it..   ;)