I have been hearing more and more about how hackers can find out who you are by everything we write online.
I read an article today on how google has every piece of information for everything we have google searched, written etc.

My question is this:
Is being on DS making us more vulnerable to hackers or is the risk of being hacked the same for any site?

What I am trying to say is because we post so much on ds.... is that what makes it easy for a hacker to hack us?

Thanks for the reminder Jan....we should always keep our guard up! Hugs right back at cha!

Deb

I've been in the computer field since the first pcs came out in the late 70s (no I am not 100 years old..lol). The web only came about in the 80s and popular in the 90s. But it is a WORLD WIDE Web. That's what www means.

There are two ways for people to invade your privacy. One is the technical way. They find backdoors to access a computer. Then they copy out the info that a company has stored. Do this a few times and you can match up info and basically own a person. The more info you input the better the chance they could figure you out. So saying where you live, names of relatives, places you go, doctors, hospitals. And once you are matched this info could be related to you. So an employer might find out that you are being treated by Dr. X or had XX surgery.

The other way that you can get hacked is personal. A person who becomes your trusted friend but what they are really doing is getting close so they can get what they want. Might be money, food or pills that they ask for. Or it could be info about you that would let them figure out who you are and maybe steal from you electronically.

Now if you think you are safe because you use a screen name and are careful...haha. Your IP address is linked to every post. Your IP address is tied to you through your service provider. Unless you go to your library or surf on a neighbors connection you are known.

The best protection is to say the least. Don't say anything that you wouldn't tell a friend. The internet is not an anonymous place. So be impecable in your word...whether in person or online.

i don't use a router b/c i've heard how easy those are to hack, i unplug the cable to my computer at night, i spam unknown emails, i don't go to weird sites, but still i got a trojan this year i think while searching for apts. i was lucky to recover most of my data. the best thing to do is to get an external hard-drive and they aren't that expensive on amazon. a computer friend just told me about a tracker that most computer places use if you ever log in at those places.
you can't be too careful. i get a lot of friend requests from people with no history or details or groups in common, so i ignore them, but still like someone posted today, they get in and send emails offering services or wanting help.
we have to be careful. life is hard enough. i have ad blocker so i don't get the ads on the side any more, but when i didn't, everything i searched suddenly had an ad on my home page. you can go to tools, options, and clear cookies often. you have to allow them, but it's good to clear them often b/c they track your activity. thanks for the reminder!!

Thank you, Tigg. That was very informing.

Excellent info Tigg. Thank you.

I guess someone would find out that I am boring and broke and that they wasted alot of time on me. I can get what you are saying but why would anyone bother unless it is like an ex husband or something.

I usually think of people who hack and look for people are if they are looking for someone or to scam someones identity.

So what were you thinking of when you posted this JC what brought it on.

In hacking there are many scams. You are pretty safe at home as the only user on your computer even with a router unless someone is really out to get you personally. Here are some important safety tips.

1 - Run a security cleaning program at least once a week, daily if you have been banking, paying bills or shopping on line that day. Make sure you update it every time you use the program and that it looks for all spyware including keystroke loggers and remote access.

2 - Any time you go to a site that you have given out personal info like cc numbers, home address, bank info, birthdate, or ss number, clear history and close down your browser before going anywhere else.

3 - Make sure in your setting that you forbid remote access to your computer or put a password on it that is so secure - using numbers, letters and special characters. If you worry about forgetting this password don't leave that info on a sticky note on your computer or in a file on your computer. Go old school, write it on a piece of paper and tape the paper to the back of a mirror or picture in a room where you can check it without anyone seeing you if you close the door.

4 - if more than one person is using your computer - even family, set the computer so that each user has to sign on to get on and everyone has their own log on info. Parents keep a copy of these passwords and log ons.

5- NEVER DO BANKING OR SHOPPING ON A PUBLIC COMPUTER!!!!! No personal info on a public computer like the library. Hackers install keystroke loggers on public computers. That means that they have a record of every key struck on that computer. They are small and difficult to recognize as not belonging. We can thank the parents that want to know everything their children do on line for how easy key stroke loggers are to get.

6 - Don't give out enough info when posting on sites like this or in chats that someone could identify who you are in the real world. DS tells you not to give out identifying info for a good reason. If you want to use your real first name and it is an unusual name, don't say what town you live in, don't give out your full birth date. Think about all the individual pieces of info you mention over time, name of your pet, your children's names, significant other's name, style of house....
Not only can this info help identify you in the real world, this info is often a key to your passwords or the security questions your bank asks. Be careful when someone wants you to write them through email. They can easily access your ip address and that can be used to locate your house on free websites that will even give a google shot of your house. Always be suspicious of any one starts asking about cars you own now or have owned in the past.

7 - You should use a separate email account for sites like this than the one you use for online business like banking or shopping. Even better, use a different browser as well. Firefox is a great second browser, so is google chrome so histories and cookies never mix. Using a separate email is important because if we are good buddies and we write to each other by email and I have been watching and keeping track of all your personal info you have been sharing, there is a good chance I can break your password and sneak into your email quietly and find out lots about you. BTW, the number one password is - password.

8- Don't use a screen name that is your name. Use different screen names on different sites. If you do this, it is very difficult to follow you online and find every word I wrote. You may find everything 1littleb wrote and there maybe more than 1littleb out there to mix it up some more but I have been careful not to make it too easy to connect 1littleb directly to me. I learned this from a past boyfriend who worked with hackers to build better security systems. Don't get me started on how they use the info against you to get even more info that ultimately allows them to open credit cards in your name or add a mortgage to your house.

oh, one more - if giving your phone number isn't required, don't give it online.

Hope this was helpful.

jan thanks im hearing this also dont open email i have gotton som wired things hugs minnie

Thanks for the post, it has got me thinking about my security

Great thread!

Awesome info Tigg and 1littleb!

Manny, like you, no one would want my crap, I have nothing, unless you count an ungodly amount of debt! LOL!

I scan everyday, full scan twice a week, and use different browsers and clear histories.

Everyone stay safe! Sending hugs, love, and comfort.

Tonna

I get your point! You are a real Sweetheart! You are the Be Nice Police! I love it!

Watch what you say and make it nice because anyone and everyone might some day see it! Hey it could be posted on Times Square in New York! I sure wouldn't want to come off hateful or selfish I want everyone to know me as NICE!

Love you JanO!

Excellent thread. I am really naive...Thanks Tigg and little b and the rest of you....like Tonna; my life is a bore...

Have had my billfold stolen recently so all of my id is out there.

Thank you all. I need to get my head in gear.

Melinda

Thanks all for useful info.
Thanks, Toni for getting the Nice part.
You pegged it.....this is the beginning of the be nice campaign.....
All are welcome to join the be nice police :-) :-)

Be safe on our computers.
And be nice.

JC, just wanted to add, I have only seen you be super nice to everyone! I am following your lead. Thanks!