Some of your comments on my last post got me thinking about more things as to what information is on the Internet about us. As you know from my last post I have been spending time looking for information on some class mates that I was with 54 years ago. For a few there was lots of detailed information. For some there was nothing. For some there was just the possibility of a phone number.
Some of the information about us is securely locked away in government or private business computers. My son works for a company that produces, sells, installs and services security systems. These systems are meant to keep your personal, government and private business very secure. Yes, there are hackers. They seem to get pretty high up the ladder in their search for information. Most business things can be done via the Internet. I can file my income tax return on the net. I can buy and sell things by using my credit card. I can do my banking right from home. My bank did inform me one time that a disk with some information on my business and many others had been lost. They of course had this backed up and no bad guy has been able to use the information. the disk is probably still lost.
But most things out on the net are pretty basic. The first half dozen entries are phone numbers. I don't know why it takes a half dozen websites to distribute your phone number and say that you may be on face book or some other social net working site. Some things are sort of fly by entries. Yes, I seconded a motion at a library board meeting. Yes, I'm named in my Dad's obituary. Once I accidentally found my application to teach for the Canadian government overseas. I've tried to find this again but no luck. Sometimes other people say things about us. It seems that there are many genealogy sites that include a few things.
Bloggers leave a huge trail behind them. We usually start our blog with a profile. Each entry we make is out there as a separate piece of information. I also write on another blog and find that those posts are listed separately one after another. Much of our material is picked up in searches. Somebody googles something and our site is included and listed. If it's on the first page someone may take a look at our post.
So yes, there can be quite a bit of information about us out on the Internet. I can hardly wait for the comments to fill in all the things I've missed or don't know. My curiosity is killing me!
I laugh to see sports items still on a decade later.
ReplyDeleteYes, you do find the strangest things from long ago all by themselves.
DeleteFrightening..........Maybe not. It's pretty superficial at the moment. How long before all cars and then people are fitted with trackers. I would hate real time data being disseminated.
ReplyDeleteYou have an idea of what this could become. How much could people be controlled by someone who is evil?
DeleteYou've covered quite a bit Red.
ReplyDeleteI did most of my family geneology over the Internet. If I google me I can find the places where I left messages on forums trying to track down my family. My hometown has a page of listings of whose buried in which cemetery. You can find Social Security apps for deceased individuals. The list is so long....
At the same time I've googled some classmates of my own and not found one single thing. Maybe for some it is possible to stay hidden.
Genealogy seems to have embraced the internet to leave info in a bank and research other inf. I found out who my great, great, great,great grandfather is more by accident than good luck.
DeleteIn the U.S. you can find out how much people have donated to the candidate or party of their choice. If you have ever commented on a medical or consumer sight under your name, that can appear. Of course, for money, you can find out their legal trail. I published some bureaucratic clap trap years ago and that tags me. I blog anonymously for so many reasons, but you have made me happier about that.
ReplyDeleteI would think many bloggers have some cover. I use Red and then had to fill out something so my name pops up. If it happened now I would probably find away to get around leaving my name. I never leave my actual age or birth date. It's a good thing I don't have to remember it.
DeleteI also served on the board of a national organization for four years, and all that information is still available on an internet search. It's really amazing how much information there is about us! I am careful to keep certain information out of my blogs for that very reason, Red.
ReplyDeleteI do not divulge personal info such as age or date of birth. When I have to leave something like that it's not actual.
DeleteI am sure there is lots..I drew the line at banking online..I am too old school for that..and automatic bill paying too:(
ReplyDeleteI agree . I don't do any business on line.
DeleteI, myself have often been in thought of the great amount of information riding the waves of the Internet. I thank being reunited with a child hood friend to that. Also quite accidentally ran into my very first love as a young girl and we are friends. Some of this is neat - I cannot begin to imagine the amound of info floating in the spheres of interneting on each and everyone of us. Some people say if you want to know - just go use your computer, and not just for Encyclopedia style - I also found ancient family I didn't even know I had and also a photo of my Dad when he was 14 tap dancing on a piece of board on the street for the attention of two young girls watching him. He did actually date one of them. ha,ha Red, thanks for this great post.
ReplyDeleteYou've found an awful lot of interesting stuff. Yes , we don't control what other people post about us.
DeleteWe really do need to be careful what we put out there as blogger's that's for sure. I think we also need to be careful of the fact that everything we read isn't necessarily true either.
ReplyDeleteYour last point is a biggie . In searching out health issues you really have to watch.
DeleteRed I've googled myself to see just how much information is out there about me and my life. My blog doesn't bother me, I don't say anything here that I don't care if people know, my facebook I hope is secure... I'll have to check that out again and see what happens. I also found another lady with the same name as I have, she's a higher up at the University of Regina... I don't mind sharing my name with her! lol It is interesting though, those who don't want to be found, well you cannot find them because generally they don't use the internet for anything, especially if they are avoiding paying taxes! From time to time I check the internet looking for one particular individual and I always come up blank. I did however find an aunt of his and called her, we had a lovely conversation!
ReplyDeleteI've also put my story out there, it's been published by a particular university and that shows up, as well as the Canada Post award I've received, if anybody is interested in finding me I'm no longer in hiding! lol
As for personal things such as banking, at first it intimidated me, today I love it, I don't have to leave home to pay my bills. I don't like parting with my money as is, but to do it online makes it seem like it's not so much of an effort to give away my money each and every month... the weird psychology of this one still intrigues me.
Cheers.
I think younger people have more info on the net as they've grown up on it.
DeleteInteresting to find those people with same names. Maybe people will quit looking in the phone book and asking for people.
Terry and I are rather old-fashioned. We don't do any BUSINESS on line. Of course I blog so there you have it and I do family research not just for myself but for others as well. So we are out there no matter how old-fashioned we like to think we are.
ReplyDeleteLinda
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