Personal Security on Silver Stackers

Discussion in 'Questions & Comments' started by parallaxerror, Dec 6, 2010.

  1. parallaxerror

    parallaxerror New Member

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    With all the photos and disclosure of personal stacks on SS, I have been considering the security implications of divulging such info on a web forum.

    GP could you or one of the other computer legends please advise me on the possibility of having members personal details or home location compromised?

    Is this in any way possible? Im aware that you can locate country of origin but can you or an evil malignant force pinpoint precise locations? or acquire other identifying details through SS?

    Thanks
     
  2. Apollo

    Apollo New Member

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    +1

    I would say the biggest security risk would be gaining access to PM inboxes, this would containing delivery addresses (home addresses etc) of SS members. Quick browse as a member in Pic threads would give you an idea of what they have.
     
  3. 2ds

    2ds New Member

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    F2F sales in public places only
    Poboxes for deliveries
    no real names
    no posts about how many oz you have
    no posts with pictures of your stack
    purge inbox regularly (already taken care of by gp)

    just off the top of my head =)
     
  4. goldpelican

    goldpelican Administrator Staff Member

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    Through IP addresses I can resolve a country, sometimes capital city, and the ISP, that's about it.

    The only way an IP address can be resolved to a home address is by the ISP (e.g. if the information was subpoenaed for a criminal investigation etc), and that requires both the IP address and a corresponding timestamp.

    This information is disclosed in the forum rules. Members cannot see your IP address, only myself as administrator.

    Now if you openly state that you're "Bob from Wangaratta", get parcels mailed to your home address, or give out direct deposit details with your account name and you're in the White Pages etc, then you can inadvertently divulge enough information to allow someone to identify yourself.
     
  5. Slam

    Slam Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    - Never store your PMs at home.

    - If you have to store it at home or close to you. Get it mailed to work or another family members address (ie. Live in different address, post to your family members address or PO Box).

    Delete Private Message's when no longer required. (Is there a way to backup Private Message's to local computer? Then delete)

    Slam
     
  6. parallaxerror

    parallaxerror New Member

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    Ok thanks for that.

    I'm not concerned about the details people willing divulge, that's their choice.

    More the ISP tracking or external factors we cannot control.

    I'm an internet spud and am unaware of what abilities organised individuals or groups might have in tracking down the owners of some of these monster ( and very valuable stacks ) from their postings/ photos.
     
  7. goldpelican

    goldpelican Administrator Staff Member

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    If you're concerned about lurkers or other members who you have not traded with identifying you from your stack, they can't use "computer techniques" to track you through the forum. No IP addresses are divulged on the forum except to the administrator, and if a member emails you via the forum, they can't find out your email address unless you reply.

    The biggest danger is yourself giving out the information inadvertently. Also think about other forums or websites where you might use the same username, and give out more information there than you do here.
     
  8. Apollo

    Apollo New Member

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    hahah! another families address... let them get burgled :)
     
  9. bazz1000

    bazz1000 Member

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    +1. Very easy to find additional information on people with unique usernames.
     
  10. parallaxerror

    parallaxerror New Member

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    ok thanks for the heads up
     
  11. Austacker

    Austacker Active Member

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    There is software that you use that will show you the extent of ip details. Have a look at iptracker or something like that. We used it in another forum to help identify spammers. I am confident as well by using some common sense in posts as well as general internet safety your risks would be low, however I would never say there aren't any risks.
     
  12. 2ds

    2ds New Member

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    Just remember, when you get burgled, ther is only one person who could have known ;)
     
  13. hanrahan

    hanrahan New Member

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    There was a guy mouthing off on share/property forums who had said he was from Africa. Curious about his user name I searched on it, thinking it may have been some animal or such from that continent.

    Apparently not. The only hits with his unusual name were his posts on various forums including a lady-boy site where he was propositioning a transvestite. So be careful. LOL
     
  14. goldpelican

    goldpelican Administrator Staff Member

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    Usernames aren't necessarily unique either - just look at Auspm/Austacker :p

    Is it Auspm? Or is it Austacker? do-do-doodoo!
     
  15. Clawhammer

    Clawhammer Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    I only did that to throw you off the sent hanrahan :)

    Feel free to trace my username...I think you'll be pleasantly disgusted ! :/
     

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