How secure is a forum?

[edward smith]

I am seriously worried about how much info an outsider or even a registered user here can find out about you in a forum. Can anyone see the location I am posting from or even my name if I decide to use a fake one? What about an administrator? How deep can he go if he wanted to have any private information? I really like it here but I am going through a few personal problems to the point where I've had to hire a lawyer. Please help.

[martinfan5]

Everyone can see the info that you put into your profile, does not matter if they are a user or not , and I believe the only info admin can see that normal users can not is your IP address and what your password is

[cotto]

That's a good question. so, would the IP address be the only thing an admin can see? Can he pinpoint a location like GPS equipment or something through the IP?

[Harry P.]

You have nothing to worry about.

Your personal information, including medical history, voting record, credit history, banking info, criminal record (if any), employment history, and much more than you probably realize, is already available in thousands, if not millions, of databases, whether you are a forum member or not. If maintaining your privacy is your concern, this forum is the least of your worries!

If you think you can be anonymous in 2013, forget it.

[Harry P.]

That's a good question. so, would the IP address be the only thing an admin can see? Can he pinpoint a location like GPS equipment or something through the IP?

We can only see whatever information you provide, along with your IP address. But your IP address can also be seen by dozens of others. Do you have an email account?

[martinfan5]

But remember, the IP address does not come back your address, just to the city the that your internet provider is located in

Example my public IP address is 174.17.12.166

when you do a trace, it shows up in Downtown Phoenix, I am about 25-30 minutes NW of downtown Phx

[Danno]

[edward smith]

Oh well then, if Martin is right, I am in trouble....

[Harry P.]

Note: I trust this forum more than my own Government.

And I would agree with you!

[Agent G]

You have nothing to worry about.

Your personal information, including medical history, voting record, credit history, banking info, criminal record (if any), employment history, and much more than you probably realize, is already available in thousands, if not millions, of databases, whether you are a forum member or not. If maintaining your privacy is your concern, this forum is the least of your worries!

If you think you can be anonymous in 2013, forget it.

In this the fourth decade of my career I find that social media is pretty much where I now go in an investigation to wrap it up. I can tie up plenty of loose ends, connect the dots, indict your butt, and do it all with a click of a mouse. Oh I still have to pound the pavement, intervieweing scores of people and write reams of pages but there isn't much I cannot find out online anymore.

G

[Danno]

In this day and age there is no such thing as privacy. All you can do is trust those you hang out with to do as little harm as possible.

Note: I trust this forum more than my own Government.

Dale

Dittos!!

Plus, what G said. {Sidebar: Hi, G! We've missed you!}

If you have any questions about what info can be gathered about you, just ask one of the fine 'customer service representatives' at the Intelligence Community Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative Data Center, in Utah. That is, if you can find one ... and if they'll admit they're one ... and if they'll admit it exists. (Which they will try to not admit.)

Think "Area 52."

[PowerPlant]

It just depends on what you have to hide...

Yes, it is possible to find out what your name is and where you live, but I'm sure that information can't be too incriminating?

Nobody can sweep your bank account or take possession of your property just because you are a member of a modeling forum

[The Creative Explorer]

Oh well then, if Martin is right, I am in trouble....

Then you were already in trouble, the IP adress is sent with every e-mail you send out.

[Danno]

I wouldn't worry about the Forum too much, I can't even get fellow modelers from my club to look at it, why would anyone else bother? It's kind of like living in the suburbs, no one cares, it's too far from the norm.

Huh?

[Tom Geiger]

Finding information about someone on the Internet gets harder if someone has a common name like Edward Smith. You want to Google your name and see what comes up. Back about 10 years ago, I'd come right to the top of the search. With more stuff on the Internet, the first entry that was me was on the fourth page of a Google search. I personally know two other Tom Geigers that aren't related to me, and now there's some young singer with the same name too. Also Google your email address. You are more likely to find direct hits on that than on a common name.

You do want to have your Internet presence in order. Watch what you have on your LinkedIn, Facebook and other pages such as message boards. Don't post anything you wouldn't want a potential employer to see. Employers do Internet checks on potential employees (I even check out people who are interviewing me on LinkedIn). I once had an interviewer say, "I see you do some work with a museum". because my name came up on the model car museum site.

So do a bit of homework and check yourself out on the Internet.

[edward smith]

Thank you guys, I am going through a nasty divorce right now and said a few things on another forum that might get back at me, no big deal....

[The Creative Explorer]

Finding information about someone on the Internet gets harder if someone has a common name like Edward Smith.

That is very true, I have a unique name of which there is only one in the world. Not always helpful haha

[Danno]

Finding information about someone on the Internet gets harder if someone has a common name like Edward Smith. You want to Google your name and see what comes up. Back about 10 years ago, I'd come right to the top of the search. With more stuff on the Internet, the first entry that was me was on the fourth page of a Google search. I personally know two other Tom Geigers that aren't related to me, and now there's some young singer with the same name too. Also Google your email address. You are more likely to find direct hits on that than on a common name.

You do want to have your Internet presence in order. Watch what you have on your LinkedIn, Facebook and other pages such as message boards. Don't post anything you wouldn't want a potential employer to see. Employers do Internet checks on potential employees (I even check out people who are interviewing me on LinkedIn). I once had an interviewer say, "I see you do some work with a museum". because my name came up on the model car museum site.

So do a bit of homework and check yourself out on the Internet.

All very true. And, another hint if you are in the job market or going through litigation: watch what your friends and your "friends" put on your facebook page (or theirs, if they identify you by name). If it's you and it's "bad," it won't matter whether you posted it or someone else did. Search engines turn up all that stuff.

Like Agent G, I've found self-incriminating web posts and pictures, and on a couple of occasions, I've interviewed a subject who denied doing something ~ ~ ~ only to brag on twitter the next day about how he/she outfoxed the stupid investigator! D'oh! Fail!!

[Guest G Holding]

You are what you give......Find me or not, If I want, you cannot find me in today's cyber world. BUT If and WHEN I screw up, you will get me.

Common sense says If you keep your mouth shut half of the facts will not be available..Go ahead, put it online....your IP address can give you away, or not if you use a remote IP proxy server.

So bottom line ED....DENY, DENY . DENY!!!!!!!!!

[Tom Geiger]

and on a couple of occasions, I've interviewed a subject who denied doing something ~ ~ ~ only to brag on twitter the next day about how he/she outfoxed the stupid investigator! D'oh! Fail!!

Dumber than rox!

[southpier]

Finding information about someone on the Internet gets harder if someone has a common name like Edward Smith. You want to Google your name and see what comes up. Back about 10 years ago, I'd come right to the top of the search. With more stuff on the Internet, the first entry that was me was on the fourth page of a Google search. I personally know two other Tom Geigers that aren't related to me, and now there's some young singer with the same name too. Also Google your email address. You are more likely to find direct hits on that than on a common name.

You do want to have your Internet presence in order. Watch what you have on your LinkedIn, Facebook and other pages such as message boards. Don't post anything you wouldn't want a potential employer to see. Employers do Internet checks on potential employees (I even check out people who are interviewing me on LinkedIn). I once had an interviewer say, "I see you do some work with a museum". because my name came up on the model car museum site.

So do a bit of homework and check yourself out on the Internet.

that's what I was hoping ..................

ps: no relation, even very distant, to the OP

[Agent G]

that's what I was hoping ..................

ps: no relation, even very distant, to the OP

Wait till you see whay you can find out about yourself! I can find ME in about 2 seconds, all my ex wives in about 5 seconds and all my previous addresses in about the same.

Hey danno!

They put me back on night watch with one days notice two weeks before DSC. I got off that day at 7am and just couldn't drive down there with no sleep. I'll be back soon.

G

[Gregg]

I am pretty sure only the moderators, admin, and the Root Admin (moi) can see your IP address. I may be wrong. Danno, correct me if you can see the IP in any posts.

As for the location with the IP, I can see in a general location where you are at, but it does not pinpoint the house, or the street, sometimes it's not even close. It just gives me an idea of the general area where somewhere is when they register. If someone says in their profile that they are in Bronx, NY, but then when the IP lookup runs, and they are in China, or somewhere else, I will delete the registration, block the IP (and the grouping of the IP (like 72.384.*, instead of 72.384.235.110). Once in a while, and it does not happen often, only once so far, someone will try to register "legally" with that IP range.

Phew, my brain cell....
All other information is what you put in the registration.

The databases are pretty secure, I have had some attempted hacks recently, and I will be adding some more changes to some things to help that out. Nothing has been compromised,it's just bots trying to log in. Nothing to worry about.

My rule of thumb is that if you haven't done anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about.

If you use a proxy server, you can't use the forum.

That has caused problems before, and I don't accept or allow any proxy server registrations.

I am also looking at some extra hooks (programs) that will add some more layers of security with registration, having to do with duplicate IP's and what not.

k. brain cell again, overloading.

Hope this info helps.

If you are really concerned about your privacy, IP, and what not, send me an email (not PM).

k den, I pau...

[Agent G]

General members do not see the IP address of a poster. The people mentioned do see the address however it reveals only a general location.

Specifics can be obtained from the provider, but it normally requires a subpoena from a LE agency. A few cases have been made going that route.

http://murderpedia.org/male.T/t/travis-maury.htm

Read further on in the article, as it gives a good breakdown regarding what can and cannot be released to the public. BTW when reading the above insert "St Louis Metro Police" where ever you see the letters "FBI". I played a small, small role in this as the assistant profiler.

I currently work a lot of computer fraud and the chick I just field trained has an extensive background in computer fraud from her days in the Nevada Secretary of States office.

Ladies and gentlemen you are your own worst enemy in the cyber world. The bad guys get only what you let them scam you out of, or what you put out there for the world to see.

G

Edited June 1, 2013 by Agent G

[Tom Geiger]

And please do post in Dan and Wayne's new thread "What Crime Did You Get Away With Recently?"

Edited June 1, 2013 by Tom Geiger