Caution Seniors: Think 2x to 3x about answering personal questions here

Pepper said:
"And IDK if Matrix is selling info from this site. They might be. This site ain't a non-profit, that I know of."

Your veiled accusation of @Matrix is repulsive.
Click to expand...
Some people are not only very mean, they are also incredibly stupid. What valuable info can I sell from this forum? The only thing I can think of is email address, which you can buy millions of them with $100.
 

Matrix said:
Some people are not only very mean, they are also incredibly stupid. What valuable info can I sell from this forum? The only thing I can think of is email address, which you can buy millions of them with $100.
Click to expand...
Well having been here over 10 years now...I can assure everybody I have never received anything sinister which looked like it could have come from or caused by the admin and owner of this site.. and it never even occurred to me to think It would...(y)
 
This thread is a typical example of disinformation spread by ignorant people.

Bad people cannot find out your IP address unless they hack into our server, which has never happened in the more than 12 years since this forum began.

SF runs on a dedicated FreeBSD server managed by me. FreeBSD is renowned for its stability, performance and security. Unlike shared servers, where one server can host hundreds of websites and a breach on one site can compromise the entire server, our setup is much more secure.

Even if someone were both smart and motivated enough to hack into our server and obtain your IP address, the most they could determine is the city you're in. So, they find out you're from NYC - what then?

Remember, it's easy to find personal information about strangers on social media platforms like Facebook, including home addresses, real names, and photos. No one in their right mind would hire a top security expert to hack into a forum just to discover which city a stranger is from - that's simply absurd.
 

I use fake names on FB and no photos of me anywhere or of my family. When I google myself, I cannot find any info about myself. I don't do online banking either. Anything that I buy online (art courses, sewing courses, books), we use my credit card. All these people who actually put their little ones on FB or anywhere else online should have their head examined as far as I am concerned. Children's photos have been placed in porn sites by horrid people.
 
LoveTulips said:
I use fake names on FB and no photos of me anywhere or of my family. When I google myself, I cannot find any info about myself. I don't do online banking either. Anything that I buy online (art courses, sewing courses, books), we use my credit card. All these people who actually put their little ones on FB or anywhere else online should have their head examined as far as I am concerned. Children's photos have been placed in porn sites by horrid people.
Click to expand...
Despite the fact I put my picture on here...there is no evidence of my existence anywhere on the internet, because I use pseudonyms everywhere, and never give out my real address...
 
Matrix said:
This thread is a typical example of disinformation spread by ignorant people.

Bad people cannot find out your IP address unless they hack into our server, which has never happened in the more than 12 years since this forum began.

SF runs on a dedicated FreeBSD server managed by me. FreeBSD is renowned for its stability, performance and security. Unlike shared servers, where one server can host hundreds of websites and a breach on one site can compromise the entire server, our setup is much more secure.

Even if someone were both smart and motivated enough to hack into our server and obtain your IP address, the most they could determine is the city you're in. So, they find out you're from NYC - what then?

Remember, it's easy to find personal information about strangers on social media platforms like Facebook, including home addresses, real names, and photos. No one in their right mind would hire a top security expert to hack into a forum just to discover which city a stranger is from - that's simply absurd.
Click to expand...
Thank you for this and my warning was mostly a generalized warning regarding all social media, most especially Facebook.
 
VintageBetter said:
Hi, In case you don't know, bad people can track down your IP address from where you post. What is your IP address? You can check in any number of ways, but here is one site:

What is my IP Address - IP Address Lookup.

Every device you use online has an IP address. IP address - Wikipedia

There are many sites that will check your IP. This, plus any other private info you post, can empower bad people to actually find your real, physical address. I do not know how they do it. They use a variety of tools and websites that I do not know specifically about, but cyber criminals know how to do this.

This is one reason why I think Facebook is EVIL. On FB, it requires your real name. Is it any wonder then how many people have been used, abused and even tracked down and killed thanks to evil Facebook because it refuses to give users safety?

Just do a Google Search of your name and chances are, any number of websites will reveal your physical address.

ANYWAY, a good rule of thumb is to not talk about your personal information. Here, many of us will discuss health issues, but unless you're posting the name of your doctor, hospital, your blood type, your last cholesterol numbers, really specific stuff, I don't see how they can use that against us. We're aging. GUILTY of AGING, as charged. Not breaking any laws - just aging.

Anyway - just be super-careful. Most of us have done this, talked about personal stuff, but in my case not covering up for my ex-spouse's abuse is part of my freedom and healing. Nothing I say can hurt him. He's rich and well-connected. He's as safe as can be, IMO. But when I saw Holly talking about her divorce I felt it was important for me to be able to say a bit about mine. Just a bit

BE SAFE out here in the Big World.
Click to expand...

If you're paranoid about your IP address, get a VPN.

As for personal stuff, I'm careful about what I give out. Even on this forum, I've found some people assume the very worst of you by default. Let alone all the armchair psychologists throwing around "Sociopath" and "narcissist" like confetti. The internet can be a strange place.
 
My email is mostly unsolicited contacts trying desperately to get in touch with me. My phone rings and someone from India wants to know if this is Judit.

Yes l use a different name online, give out no information, but they know who I am anyway. I went to the local big box store and was told if I take the survey at the online address listed on the back of the receipt, I could win $500.

Ya, I'll do that 'cause I want my phone ringing every five minutes again.
 
Well if “THEY” want you…they can find you and you can’t hide. You are in much more danger from scammers….which are capable of convincing relatively smart people to do dumb things. I went to college when your ss# was your student Id. And I seem to recall that it was on my drivers license too. The internet makes things faster…so easier to track personal data. And much information is public anyway. Like in arizona what you paid for your house. Cost of being alive…i suppose.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top