Earlier tonight I was on the only social network I've ever used and a friend of mine posted something about this site she found. Now you guys here on the forums know I've never posted anything in a ranting or venting way and those who are my friends know I can be a bit hot-headed at times. I ended up looking at this site, http://www.spokeo.com/ , and of all things I'd found myself. Address, gender, age, email, everything. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPFLagxnDsA this video shows you how to get your info off that site. Don't believe me? I've got three other people who found the same type of personal info on themselves. And for those of you who think I'm joking, I'm not. If you have facebook then your personal info is probly already on that site. I only posted this in the General Trainz forum bc I didn't know whether this fell into the Trainz Community or General Trainz forums. But if you want your info to remain private, then I highly suggest you get rid of your presence on this site, as well as getting rid of facebook too. Hope you all have a good day/night. John AKA haddock56
Something I've recently become aware of
- Thread starter haddock56
- Start date
NSWGR_46Class
Just call my Captain Rude
So they are data mining = what's new = but its wrong as I did a search on my email and the poo it came back with was almost laughable.
Goes back to what we used to teach in collage, if you would not want Grandma to read about it on the front page of the local paper do not post it on social media.
Goes back to what we used to teach in collage, if you would not want Grandma to read about it on the front page of the local paper do not post it on social media.
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trainman7616
Western Maryland Addict
Just looked up my name but found nothing on myself. I find the privacy agreement on that site to be ironic.
No info found.
Anyway,
Did you ever type your own name into Google?
With every silly picture you post of yourself on the web, ask yourself: Will this come and haunt me on my next job interview?
I actually got a compliment on a job interview on how less there was to find about me on the internet.
Anyway,
Did you ever type your own name into Google?
With every silly picture you post of yourself on the web, ask yourself: Will this come and haunt me on my next job interview?
I actually got a compliment on a job interview on how less there was to find about me on the internet.
Welcome to the world of Big Data. This is where aggregation of different sources of data can lead to profiles. Spokeo is one company that for a small fee can let you poke around with the information they've put together. For example, I'f I'm searching for an old Friend, I can put in their name and the last state I remember they lived in, or search nation wide.
It then comes back with a list of Names that match and age ranges and cities, I can then home in on that data as well. If you own real estate or property in this country, your name is in public records that these guys mine. Public tax records, so you own an apartment building? You have to have a license for that, and inspection permits and so on, all public records.
Do you have a drivers license? Some states will sell subsets of their data, such as Name and Address information but not age for example.
In some states when you buy a car the state sells that information to peddlers who take it and comb through it and sell it to others. That's why in the US you get so much junk mail It goes on and on for phone records as well. Do you use a credit or debit card? Every purchase at every store is tracked. The store is tracking you too. All of those opt-in discount cards are tied into information gathering services and a few of those are tied now to Facebook. So Facebook has a way of tracking what you buy so they can sell it to other vendors and target you for ads.
You put that all together and glue it with some algorithms to filter out bad matches and you start to build a profile of a person. These sites without me telling them know how many people live in my home, my age, the age of my spouse and the age of my sons. I didn't give it to them, they just figured it out from all of these sources and that is one of the cornerstones of the new information age and these collective databases and there's more scary stuff out there. In the US we have three credit reporting agencies, so I periodically check my credit rating using the free services from the reporting agencies. Anyway, when I first set up my account I had to verify who I was, right? For example, they ask the usual stuff, date of birth etc. They also asked me a bunch of questions about past places where I lived, past cars that I have owned (financed) and companies that I had worked for. This isn't the government we're talking about here, it's a Credit Reporting agency and the questions were going back over 20 years.
You are now a commodity, well your information and your habits are a commodity. I tell friends and family that Big Data and all this information gathering on us is like the old "Twilight Zone" episode "To Serve Man." A bunch of aliens land on Earth and cure disease, famine, provide incredible technology and peace comes to the world. Then they offer trips back to their home world.. Well at the start of the episode the Alien had a book, written in his language and a team of experts to decipher it. Well they deciphered the cover "To Serve Man." Well that made everybody feel easy about the aliens. It turns out that too late they discovered that it was a cook book!
Now, think of Facebook, Google and all of the data collectors on almost every website (Adaware etc.) All of these nifty services, wonderful apps all the while tracking your clicks, your selections. To these guys we're all cattle. Say Moooo.
It then comes back with a list of Names that match and age ranges and cities, I can then home in on that data as well. If you own real estate or property in this country, your name is in public records that these guys mine. Public tax records, so you own an apartment building? You have to have a license for that, and inspection permits and so on, all public records.
Do you have a drivers license? Some states will sell subsets of their data, such as Name and Address information but not age for example.
In some states when you buy a car the state sells that information to peddlers who take it and comb through it and sell it to others. That's why in the US you get so much junk mail It goes on and on for phone records as well. Do you use a credit or debit card? Every purchase at every store is tracked. The store is tracking you too. All of those opt-in discount cards are tied into information gathering services and a few of those are tied now to Facebook. So Facebook has a way of tracking what you buy so they can sell it to other vendors and target you for ads.
You put that all together and glue it with some algorithms to filter out bad matches and you start to build a profile of a person. These sites without me telling them know how many people live in my home, my age, the age of my spouse and the age of my sons. I didn't give it to them, they just figured it out from all of these sources and that is one of the cornerstones of the new information age and these collective databases and there's more scary stuff out there. In the US we have three credit reporting agencies, so I periodically check my credit rating using the free services from the reporting agencies. Anyway, when I first set up my account I had to verify who I was, right? For example, they ask the usual stuff, date of birth etc. They also asked me a bunch of questions about past places where I lived, past cars that I have owned (financed) and companies that I had worked for. This isn't the government we're talking about here, it's a Credit Reporting agency and the questions were going back over 20 years.
You are now a commodity, well your information and your habits are a commodity. I tell friends and family that Big Data and all this information gathering on us is like the old "Twilight Zone" episode "To Serve Man." A bunch of aliens land on Earth and cure disease, famine, provide incredible technology and peace comes to the world. Then they offer trips back to their home world.. Well at the start of the episode the Alien had a book, written in his language and a team of experts to decipher it. Well they deciphered the cover "To Serve Man." Well that made everybody feel easy about the aliens. It turns out that too late they discovered that it was a cook book!
Now, think of Facebook, Google and all of the data collectors on almost every website (Adaware etc.) All of these nifty services, wonderful apps all the while tracking your clicks, your selections. To these guys we're all cattle. Say Moooo.
narrowgauge
92 year oldTrainz veteran
Just plug your name into Google and see what you get.
Peter
Peter
Even though I have a facebook (don't really use it anymore) all of the people who also have my name are all on the East side of the state. I guess I got lucky. EDIT: After attempting a search via email, this popped up: "CAUTION: This information is potentially shocking. Spokeo uses proprietary deep web technology to search over 70 social networks for status updates, photos, relationships, and profiles. Please prepare yourself for the unexpected."
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And you're absolutely right. That's what's disturbing about the internet: people cant their sticky fingers off of others' information and end up posting it so everyone can see.
My email came up too, along with where I live, however it put a tick on dating sites and I never been to one, my email is only linked to youtube, flickr, photobucket, facebook, Square Enix, PlayStation.au, victrainz and this forum, no where else have I used it.
The icon it showed my email linked too is funny, I guess it's either Flickr or Youtube where if gets your info from.
Cheers.
The icon it showed my email linked too is funny, I guess it's either Flickr or Youtube where if gets your info from.
Cheers.
Ok, let me make some clarifications here.
First, this kind of thing is what largely got me into the world of information security. Not Spokeo or its ilk, per se, but the adware/spyware thing that became popular in 2000. It's pretty much always been the attitude of companies, software developers and web operators that they have the right to do and record anything they want. If the capability exists, they WILL exploit it to its full potential, and we've seen plenty of examples of that sense of self-entitlement in every aspect of modern technology (haha, DRM, anyone?) And, in theory, they should tell you, and maybe they do in some fine print on a page you probably can't find, but, frankly, even if they don't, what are you gonna do?
Second, don't get tricked into thinking that only people who use social media like Facebook, or even that only people who own a computer or use the internet are affected: Data miners like Spokeo and Intelius record data on EVERYONE. And they start early, with kids. This is not to say social media is close to safe, but, again, anything technology allows, is automatically considered acceptable. Kind of like how the software pirates think, as well as the purveyors of DRM and other problems on society. Don't get me wrong, social media makes this kind of thing 100 times worse, but data mining has been around for years.
Third, this is not even an online-only phenomenon, although the internet has made it far cheaper and easier for companies to exploit you. Spokeo is far from the only player. Intelius is another biggie. Offline (or well, not accessible to the average person like Spokeo, Intelius, etc.) are services like Abacus Direct, Acxiom, Equifax (the credit-rating company that probably is the biggest player of all), Lexis-Nexis, etc. They've been around forever. The only way you *might* be able to opt-out of their data-sharing is to write them. But there are dozens of other major players and thousands of low-level data sellers.
I realize a lot of folks don't care about the privacy invasion. What you might care about is that your personal information is worth money - to you. Professionally, I've done interviews and gotten PAID for it. Personally, I make about a grand a year doing focus groups for a couple of market research agencies. I'm not a particularly interesting person, but, having worked in market research myself, I learned who will pay me for my opinions. Yet, people are giving away far more for free on Facebook. Now, I get paid by companies to learn what my favorite toothpaste is, or why I won't buy Dannon or Apple products. People are giving that information away for free! The only reason why distinct market research polling companies are still around is because the data coming from Facebook is largely of crap quality overall, but that may change as data architecture and refinement improve.
Fourth, the more data being shared, the risk of identity theft goes up. It's probably not a surprise that has by far one of the fastest growing segments of crime. A good way to get your identity stolen is to have a pre-approved credit card mailed to you that you weren't expecting. If someone gets it first, well, have fun with that. But, even a birthday can come in handy to a thief.
Lastly, while I love the piggy example above, don't think for a second that because you pay to use a website or service, data collection and vacuuming isn't going on. They're worse. While anonymous or quasi-anonymous users can use fake email addresses, sign up under fake names, etc. to hide our identities, you can't do that with a service that you pay for, or on a mobile device, since that's typically tied to whoever purchased it. Amazon, eBay and Paypal have historically been some of the worst offenders. Most of their tracking occurs server-side so AdBlockPlus and Ghostery often won't help you there.
First, this kind of thing is what largely got me into the world of information security. Not Spokeo or its ilk, per se, but the adware/spyware thing that became popular in 2000. It's pretty much always been the attitude of companies, software developers and web operators that they have the right to do and record anything they want. If the capability exists, they WILL exploit it to its full potential, and we've seen plenty of examples of that sense of self-entitlement in every aspect of modern technology (haha, DRM, anyone?) And, in theory, they should tell you, and maybe they do in some fine print on a page you probably can't find, but, frankly, even if they don't, what are you gonna do?
Second, don't get tricked into thinking that only people who use social media like Facebook, or even that only people who own a computer or use the internet are affected: Data miners like Spokeo and Intelius record data on EVERYONE. And they start early, with kids. This is not to say social media is close to safe, but, again, anything technology allows, is automatically considered acceptable. Kind of like how the software pirates think, as well as the purveyors of DRM and other problems on society. Don't get me wrong, social media makes this kind of thing 100 times worse, but data mining has been around for years.
Third, this is not even an online-only phenomenon, although the internet has made it far cheaper and easier for companies to exploit you. Spokeo is far from the only player. Intelius is another biggie. Offline (or well, not accessible to the average person like Spokeo, Intelius, etc.) are services like Abacus Direct, Acxiom, Equifax (the credit-rating company that probably is the biggest player of all), Lexis-Nexis, etc. They've been around forever. The only way you *might* be able to opt-out of their data-sharing is to write them. But there are dozens of other major players and thousands of low-level data sellers.
I realize a lot of folks don't care about the privacy invasion. What you might care about is that your personal information is worth money - to you. Professionally, I've done interviews and gotten PAID for it. Personally, I make about a grand a year doing focus groups for a couple of market research agencies. I'm not a particularly interesting person, but, having worked in market research myself, I learned who will pay me for my opinions. Yet, people are giving away far more for free on Facebook. Now, I get paid by companies to learn what my favorite toothpaste is, or why I won't buy Dannon or Apple products. People are giving that information away for free! The only reason why distinct market research polling companies are still around is because the data coming from Facebook is largely of crap quality overall, but that may change as data architecture and refinement improve.
Fourth, the more data being shared, the risk of identity theft goes up. It's probably not a surprise that has by far one of the fastest growing segments of crime. A good way to get your identity stolen is to have a pre-approved credit card mailed to you that you weren't expecting. If someone gets it first, well, have fun with that. But, even a birthday can come in handy to a thief.
Lastly, while I love the piggy example above, don't think for a second that because you pay to use a website or service, data collection and vacuuming isn't going on. They're worse. While anonymous or quasi-anonymous users can use fake email addresses, sign up under fake names, etc. to hide our identities, you can't do that with a service that you pay for, or on a mobile device, since that's typically tied to whoever purchased it. Amazon, eBay and Paypal have historically been some of the worst offenders. Most of their tracking occurs server-side so AdBlockPlus and Ghostery often won't help you there.
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Interesting concept there RRSignal,
I do not wish to shoot down haddock's thread and I don't expect anyone here to agree with what I am about to imply. Please, do see it as a continuation of my previous comment.
IMHO, I'm unsure if it will be of any benefit to you or anyone else in this thread, I came across a lengthy document in the late 90's from the UN HQ that stated how they planned to bind the masses up using today's technology to consume the minds of millions in such an advanced way that the population of the world will be rendered helpless victims caught in a snare through what is otherwise known as 'Electronic Bondage'. This might sound like virtual BDSM to some. A conspiracy to others, but the facts can clearly be seen in the everyday lives of the people who use it.
I think the first gadget to dupe the unsuspecting majority was the calculator. Surely, this device had to be created in order to numb the senses and dumb the people down so they could not think for themselves. From then onwards came in the slow progression of VCR's, Disc players, remote gadgets in toys and the endless list spirals on. Things became increasingly new as microchip technology was pushed to it's limits and therefore still is, as long as something in our day to day life is new. Today's technology that is developed by large corporations and marketed in many diverse ways that people will find appealing to them. Personally, I can admit, like many of us do like all the glamour, glitz n gloss for what it has become. Individual superiority takes a hold when someone has to have the next best thing to compete with family, friends & coworkers. Little do people suspect that an RFID has been implanted in the newest models. Not only gadgets, home appliances, go cards, transport and links to other services, this form of globalization is so vastly wide spread.
With so many companies cashing in, implementing greater idea's to feed the feeble mindedness of almost everyone on the planet as a means for us to conform/obey to the fast pace pattern of society and the tactics those up top prey on the gullible with their hideous ideologies, that we should be keeping up with the latest and greatest in hi-tech appliances to further confuse us from hidden agenda going on at broad top of the spectrum (behind the scenes). It is a worrying situation that our personal information can and will be used against us. Even though they have our information already, the only means of escape is to destroy your mobile phone, throw the computer out the window, put all ID cards through the shredder and send your car off a cliff.
Anyway, I don't want to upset you people with my spiel............ because you surely know better.
Cheers,
Marty
I do not wish to shoot down haddock's thread and I don't expect anyone here to agree with what I am about to imply. Please, do see it as a continuation of my previous comment.
IMHO, I'm unsure if it will be of any benefit to you or anyone else in this thread, I came across a lengthy document in the late 90's from the UN HQ that stated how they planned to bind the masses up using today's technology to consume the minds of millions in such an advanced way that the population of the world will be rendered helpless victims caught in a snare through what is otherwise known as 'Electronic Bondage'. This might sound like virtual BDSM to some. A conspiracy to others, but the facts can clearly be seen in the everyday lives of the people who use it.
I think the first gadget to dupe the unsuspecting majority was the calculator. Surely, this device had to be created in order to numb the senses and dumb the people down so they could not think for themselves. From then onwards came in the slow progression of VCR's, Disc players, remote gadgets in toys and the endless list spirals on. Things became increasingly new as microchip technology was pushed to it's limits and therefore still is, as long as something in our day to day life is new. Today's technology that is developed by large corporations and marketed in many diverse ways that people will find appealing to them. Personally, I can admit, like many of us do like all the glamour, glitz n gloss for what it has become. Individual superiority takes a hold when someone has to have the next best thing to compete with family, friends & coworkers. Little do people suspect that an RFID has been implanted in the newest models. Not only gadgets, home appliances, go cards, transport and links to other services, this form of globalization is so vastly wide spread.
With so many companies cashing in, implementing greater idea's to feed the feeble mindedness of almost everyone on the planet as a means for us to conform/obey to the fast pace pattern of society and the tactics those up top prey on the gullible with their hideous ideologies, that we should be keeping up with the latest and greatest in hi-tech appliances to further confuse us from hidden agenda going on at broad top of the spectrum (behind the scenes). It is a worrying situation that our personal information can and will be used against us. Even though they have our information already, the only means of escape is to destroy your mobile phone, throw the computer out the window, put all ID cards through the shredder and send your car off a cliff.
Anyway, I don't want to upset you people with my spiel............ because you surely know better.
Cheers,
Marty
Some very interesting concepts there chuffbuff. Possible we could have a link to the article you'd mentioned? And please keep on topic (you know who you are, not going to say names this time). I actually threw my cell phone across the yard one day lol. Very frustrated and wasn't in the mood to have any calls that day. RRSignal, I'm not even going to try and say anything against your comment--done that once already in a different thread, don't need to stir up trouble. That's the main reason why I've kept quiet lately, so don't expect much from me anymore.
cascaderailroad
New member
They're not gonna get me ... my flip cell phone is from 2007 (before they even invented "G's" and cameras).
I have my tinfoil hat on ... and I don't even know what an I Pad or I Pod is ... but I once had a bachelor pad.
I have my tinfoil hat on ... and I don't even know what an I Pad or I Pod is ... but I once had a bachelor pad.