Random Personal Privacy/Security Thoughts

A couple of things always stand out to me as odd, and I thought I would see if some of you guys and gals have the same thoughts or your own examples to share.

First, it's quite common where I live for people to put stickers on their vehicles that list information like the names of their children, and an icon indicating the sport their children play or the activity they're involved in at school. Sometimes they go as far as to list the child's jersey number and other identifying information.

Am I paranoid, or does this strike anyone as else offering up too much information?

The next thing that has stood out to me recently as a bit odd is the "Tripit" application on LinkedIn. Using this app, it's possible to share your travel schedule, show how many miles you've traveled, etc.. I've never installed it, so I don't really know what privacy settings it has.

I won't install it primarily because I really don't want a general audience to know that I'm traveling. It seems very risky to me to advertise that type of information.

Thoughts?

MS

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Comments

veritas_libertas

Turgon wrote: »

There are devious and sick people out there so some caution would be wise I think. But at the same time I do wonder if the worry about risks like this lead to more and more distrust and more guns in the world.

I like guns!

RobertKaucher

veritas_libertas wrote: »

I like guns!

Me too. My problem is with the people wieling them....

veritas_libertas

RobertKaucher wrote: »

Me too. My problem is with the people wieling them....

wieling? You mean actually using them

That doesn't bother me much, I grew up in a family of police officers. Guns are a norm.

I'm not trying to start anything. Actually, I am getting a headache by all the twists and turns this thread is taking

. Yes, WEIRD turns!

RobertKaucher

veritas_libertas wrote: »

wieling? You mean actually using them

Please do not feed the retreds who cannot type...

veritas_libertas

RobertKaucher wrote: »

Please do not feed the retreds who cannot type...

I apologize, I didn't mean to offend. I have had people eat me up for it as well.

wedge1988

Well, this is a different posting. Ill make sure i note everything down, so when i need the info i have it ready

Seriously though, there are those that are good and those that are bad. If i had my way, i'd execute all the bad people... (And by bad i mean serious not the fact they stole a loaf of bread)

RobertKaucher

veritas_libertas wrote: »

I apologize, I didn't mean to offend. I have had people eat me up for it as well.

None taken! Just making sure I get as good as I give!

veritas_libertas

wedge1988 wrote: »

If i had my way, i'd execute all the bad people... (And by bad i mean serious not the fact they stole a loaf of bread)

So thats why we have so many bread thieves!

dynamik

veritas_libertas wrote: »

I have had people eat me up for it as well.

Like my mom!

RobertKaucher wrote: »

Just making sure I get as good as I give!

Like my mom!

RobertKaucher

Some show you their affection by joining your fan club, I show you my affection by making momma jokes about you...

dynamik

RobertKaucher wrote: »

Some show you their affection by joining your fan club, I show you my affection by making momma jokes about you...

If you had ever seen my mom, you'd realize the joke is on you

msteinhilber

dynamik wrote: »

If you had ever seen my mom, you'd realize the joke is on you

Hmm... ****?

mom i'd like to flee

Phliplip112

RobertKaucher wrote: »

Me too. My problem is with the people wieling them....

I carry mine pretty regularly where the laws allow it. Does that mean you don't like me?.............

As far s personal security I suggest a caliber that begins with 4 and ends in 5.

eMeS

RobertKaucher wrote: »

eMeS, I'm not saying that you’re incorrect. As was mentioned earlier any bit of information can be used to obtain more. My point being is this a perceived threat or real threat? The vast majority of families probably do not have anything to fear from putting this information on a window decal or bumper sticker. It is far more likely that any “attack” on the child will come from a person who already has this information any way.

How would a child’s name and the fact that they play soccer (as advertised on a decal) assist a criminal? I find it unlikely that a criminal who sees your car out at a soccer tournament or simply driving on the road would see the decal and then begin to plot a way to rob your house. It is far more likely that the criminal will begin by casing a neighborhood and see which families have any sort of activities that they attend which keep them away for extended periods of time. This criminal will not need to see any sort of decal to obtain this information. What you do when you leave will be unimportant. It will only matter that you are away for long enough. They will also be able to gain this information in other ways (like when you are packing up the car).

Is it reasonable that a decal on your car with your child’s name and sport makes you more susceptible to being robbed? I just do not see a reasonable connection. Now I do see a connection between putting out a Sony box from your new 50 inch TV and getting robbed. This fits better with how criminals actually operate. They first begin by checking a neighborhood and looking for potential houses that might have what they want. They do not begin by following cars of people whose children play soccer, or base ball, or whatever.

I just don’t see how this information could be used in a significant way in an attempt to rob a house. And as far as in an attempt to attack or harm a child, the average family has far more to fear from an uncle, a grandfather, a friend of the family or even a sibling before they would need to worry about a predator gathering information about a child based on these stickers (as you pointed out). Now the family of a millionaire or the CEO of some international firm or another, I could see this as possibly being an issue, as their families are far more likely to be targeted by a criminal.

I think this really relates to your other post about security… What are the chances of a family being targeted by a criminal so that this information could be used in a significant way? Does worrying about your family/home being targeted so that it prevents you from displaying outward signs of support for their activities not sound like security causing undue restrictions on family life?

Personally I'm not really into the whole security paranoia scene, and I've definitely worked in places where the amount of security applied definitely impacted the ability to accomplish meaningful activity. I'm not seeking to do the same to my family.

However, since my wife and I had our child almost 2 years ago now, I've definitely become more aware of small things that people do that to me seem to entail more risk than reward. The child/activity/sticker things seems to me to be one of those things.

I'm not really saying that we should try to wipe things clean to maintain anonymity. What I am saying is that it doesn't seem wise to me to go out of the way to advertise information that can be used for nefarious purposes. In both cases that I mentioned, people would have to purposely set out to expose the information.

The child/activity/sticker car thing I think is actually the least significant of the two examples I gave. I agree, it's probably low risk. However, I'm left with the thought, "why take the risk?" Certainly it's not an issue yet for me, as my child is not yet playing sports.

Plus, if my kid ever wants to play soccer then there's a whole other issue that needs to be addressed. (Let's see what kind of holy war this statement starts...)

Also, I'd likely have to mature significantly; to the point where I am willing to remove the "Ultra Hot Decal" from my car in order to replace it with something important to my kid. (Let's see how many on here remember the "Ultra Hot" decals...)

The "Tripit" thing actually seems more significant to me. I just don't see a value to displaying to the world where I will be and how long I will be there. Personally, if I were a criminal I would try to use information like that as well as any other sources of information I could glean.

MS

Pash

eMeS wrote: »

Plus, if my kid ever wants to play soccer then there's a whole other issue that needs to be addressed. (Let's see what kind of holy war this statement starts...)

haha. no holy war's I am sure, but...

So many future pele's or maradona's have probably been undiscovered due to that kind of attitude!

Ohh and why are you all assuming dynamik has a mother?

Paul Boz

I honestly don't care what I put out there in terms of people being able to ID where I live. Hell, I welcome anyone that wants to rob myself or my wife (who has several state championships in 1000yard sharp shooting).

*note the bitchin' social engineering pest inspector shirt

veritas_libertas

Paul Boz wrote: »

I welcome anyone that wants to rob myself or my wife (who has several state championships in 1000yard sharp shooting).

Thats great. My Wife has a better aim than me, and likes martial arts. I would hate to be the idiot who tries to break in. Oh, and I have home defense rounds for my AR-15. No need to worry about them going through the walls....

bgrablin

dynamik wrote: »

Interesting read if you're curious about this type of thing: Amazon.com: The Art of Deception: Controlling the Human Element of Security (9780764542800): Kevin D. Mitnick, William L. Simon, Steve Wozniak: Books

Good ol' Mitnick. Does he talk about his stent in prison and how to stave off the raging homos?

veritas_libertas

bgrablin wrote: »

Good ol' Mitnick. Does he talk about his stent in prison and how to stave off the raging homos?

I'm hoping he writes his autobiography soon. I would really like to here his whole story.