Greatest threat to bloggers

By: Qwaider

On:Sunday, June 08, 2008 7:29:46 AM
In:Thoughts
Viewed: (2702) times

Currently 4.2/5 Stars.
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Rated 4.2/5 stars (52 votes cast)

Not the governments, not the rapidly falling ceiling of liberties, and certainly not other bloggers. But serious privacy violations by what I like to call "blog vultures".

The risk is real, and these "vultures" are out there to take every piece of information you spray on your blog to use against you one day.

But even those vulture are not that serious, unless ....

Unless they know you personally. Or somehow manage to get close to people you know. Or a manager you work for. These close people, possible a friend, an ex-girlfriend, an ex-husband .. whatever you have. Once things turn negative they might decide to blow the whole thing up

And don't get fooled by people who tell you to "keep it real" and "be yourself". There's no better bounty against you than real event with real people in them and your privacy is completely shattered. With all the horrors that come with that.

Blogging is fun, and the allure of exposing more is really hard to ignore, but the more you expose, the larger the target area someone can take against you.

It's really tough to keep things hidden. But it's every person's duty to make sure things that need to remain hidden, do remain hidden. Extra information, pictures and other family details should be safeguarded against snoopers and vultures.

Your whole social existence depends on it, can you afford not to protect your privacy?

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« No more Rock Stars PLEASE!

Leave them alone you F@$%en jerk! »

Memories....

#1
hamede
Said
On: 6/8/2008 8:47:41 AM

ya.

#2
KJ
Said
On: 6/8/2008 9:02:13 AM

Sigh! I guess I am the biggest mess - I dunno if by your definition I have exposed lots and lots of info, but you're def right! There's good exposure and there's bad exposure - and my online presence and my easily googleable name along with the countless traces I left online... holy feces!

Ya seedi, I will keep it clean, and enjoy the ride, and hope my parents don't read what I wrote LOL! Although I am sure dad would like it ^_^

#3
wonders
Said
On: 6/8/2008 9:05:35 AM

hmmm... this is a very sensitive issue i agree, it is really difficult to balance between being honest and careful

#4
Faisal
Said
On: 6/8/2008 9:34:00 AM

Qwaider, not to freak you out or anything, but just by reading your blog casually now I know:
1) you full name
2) your fathers name
3) where you live
4) when you left jordan and came to the US
5) a little bit about your past relationships
6) a littel bit about your family
7) what property you own in jordan and where
8) hobbies, activities, interests...etc

and the list goes on.

Not to freak you out or even disturb you, but just to tell you that you can never be too careful about what you post online and your identity. Cheers and keep up the good work.

#7
Hani Obaid
Said
On: 6/8/2008 5:04:56 PM

It's easy, just don't write anything down that you wouldn't say out loud in a room with everyone you know in it!

The nice thing is I started out clean, everyone I know including my family, and employer has read my blog! So I don't have to go fabricating walls, pseudonyms, and imaginary cities...

#8
bakkouz
Said
On: 6/8/2008 6:42:01 PM

ya zalameh inta il tani eh! i7na sirna bil qarn il 22 o inta lissa bitsolef hal sawaleef eh. ino zai ooo hackers ra7 yekhtarqo jihazak! deer balak ti7ki ismak la 7ada! il internet hada makan khateeeer!!!
ya zalameh yalla 3ad wall :)

#9
Hani Obaid
Said
On: 6/8/2008 7:08:09 PM

Bakkouz, it's not about hacking, in the US/UK, the type of fraud where someone pretends to be you applies for things like a passport, social insurance card, or even credit card with your name, and then assumes your identity is quite common, and is in fact the worse thing that can happen to you.

Imagine going to get a house loan, and finding out you're in debt for $50,000, or that you're a wanted criminal in 10 countries when you've never hurt a fly.

Setting identity theft aside since it's kinda hard to do that in Amman, one can use material on your blog to publicly humiliate your business, to file a complaint to the government about what he claims is subversive material, for a woman someone can use it to ruin her reputation. (I can name at least one blogger who had her personal photos posted on the blog taken and placed on top of naked torosos to humiliate her). The list goes on an on.

Yes it's 2008, and the methods of fraud and coercion may be different, but the human race is still as sleazy and self-serving as ever.

#10
Qwaider
Said
On: 6/8/2008 7:54:04 PM

Hamede
Thanks

Kj
Imagine what the effect would be on KJ in his 40's?

Wonders
That's right, however, there are ways where people can be honest, yet, not expose themselves

Faisal
YES!! EXACTLY!! That's EXACTLY what I'm talking about.
Over the years, and little by little we let out so many details and so much information to the point that someone, who is up to no good will have enough munition to cause some serious damage.

Whisperer #1
I'm really sorry you had to go through that. But you're not alone in that. There are many people who just don't know when to quit, and cause people to become more and more upset by the mere mention of them.
My suggestion to you is to never give in. Otherwise, I'm afraid you're in for a very nasty result. Just resist it, and hope someday they will get fed up and just move on

Whisperer #2
I totally understand what's going on with you. Family and friends are very important in these cases. It starts with you telling them the whole story to make sure you can rely on their support
It's better not to place ourselves in such compromising situations to begin with

Hani
Not that easy my friend, you see. In a room filled with people. You have what 40? 50? people who can take notice or offense? On the internet it's millions. Chances are higher, and way more severe.
As for your part on "everyone I know has ...etc" you will excuse me when I tell you that good job, but -respectfully- no I don't believe you :)

Bakkouz
1st, why is your IP showing as Egypt? Are you in Egypt or is it dumb TEDATA not reporting their IPs to Arin?
Second, I think you are kidding :) sa7? Identity and privacy are the issues of the 21st century. Previously it wasn't that big of a deal but just look at all the regulations in effect nowadays in the EU and you will know what I'm talking about. These are safe guarded secrets to many nations (and individuals) and the EU will not shy from crashing down on anyone who deals with these sensitive information. In fact, they're pushing a bill to declare your IP Address as sensitive data and needs protection. So you know
Now, why is your IP showing up as Egypt?

Hani#2
Exactly, that's one attack vector, there are plenty others.

#11
Hani Obaid
Said
On: 6/8/2008 8:38:58 PM

Qwaider, which part don't you believe ? That I don't have to fabricate names, cities to protect myself ?

If it's too sensitive to blog about truthfully, I won't blog about it at all!
This is my story take it or leave it :)

No offense taken. I don't think you know me well enough to tell either way, but based on your average guy, I wouldn't believe it either ;)

#12
Qwaider
Said
On: 6/8/2008 9:09:15 PM

LOL Hani ...
Look, I didn't mean to offend you. You can be whoever you want for all I care. What I know, like, and have befriended, is the mental mass behind your bold avatar. Whatever you call your self doesn't even matter to me :)
And you're right, I don't know you well enough to tell either way :) (stress on either way) :)

#13
KJ
Said
On: 6/8/2008 9:14:48 PM

The best thing about memory is that everything looks rosy/hilarious in retrospect - by the time I am 40 I will be more concerned about some rumors/behaviors that Moogle did in college rather than me talking about some family issue (which is the most sensitive I think I have written on) :D

#14
Hani Obaid
Said
On: 6/8/2008 9:25:18 PM

lol it's good thing you didn't say the bald mass behind your mental avatar!

#15
laila
Said
On: 6/8/2008 9:44:07 PM

the only personal stuff i had on my blog were profession, country and nationality + first name.... and people i had never met recognized me !! :( so i'm super careful about what i post

#16
Maher
Said
On: 6/8/2008 10:46:34 PM

i believe that there is nothing to be afraid of ...if the blogger does not do any wrongs! no? ;)

#17
bakkouz
Said
On: 6/9/2008 12:18:25 PM

Ya zalameh TEdata Jordan still haven't registered their IP's as Jordanian. ba3dain haika a7san, mshan il security wil privacy wil bateekh, bardo tamweeh ya3ni :P