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When was the last time you checked your privacy on the internet?
By scorpiobabes
@scorpiobabes (7225)
United States
March 7, 2013 12:07pm CST
I got real interested in internet privacy a few years ago, and set about to try to remove as much of my electronic footprint as possible. I went to various search engines, and searched my name. I even Googled my phone number and took the necessary steps to stop getting SPAM. But I was in for a horrible shock today: I NEVER checked out my user name-and there are all sorts of links!
As some of you may have already heard, our personal information here was made available to Google briefly in the last few days, along with out user names. So I'm scrambling to do some damage control, but the damage is done-it's out there.
When was the last time you took a moment to check your online footprint? Try running your user name from here, Twitter, or even eBay-you might be shocked, like I was. Now I'm off to do some major damage control.
2 people like this
9 responses
@topffer (42156)
• France
7 Mar 13
I don't try to remove my footprint like you, but I try to put walls between my real life and my online activities, and I never use twice an user name between 2 sites. I know that online data are not always secure but what happened today hurts. I give me a few days to think about it and to draw conclusions.
@scorpiobabes (7225)
• United States
7 Mar 13
I didn't think about it too much, but honestly-did any of us decide to join this site and expect our privacy to be violated? I probably should have thought about it more, but at the time I started going online, the world wide web was pretty new (2005 or 2006) and there wasn't as much of a big deal about cyber attacks and privacy.
1 person likes this
@scorpiobabes (7225)
• United States
8 Mar 13
I realize that. I try to keep them separated as much as possible-I'm even starting to use a different email for professional reasons now. I used to have my own business; any posts from there don't bother me. It's this intrusion into my private life that has me so irked!
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
7 Mar 13
The problem is to not mix private and public life. My real name is available on various online database and web sites, but it is my public life. myLot is for me a private place where I want to stay anonymous and to have fun with friends without disclosing who I am. It is why I am embarrassed today.
@Mavic123456 (21893)
• Thailand
8 Mar 13
what happened here in mylot well things happen. it has been done and it is over. I don't really put too much ado on this matters because 1. I am not a celebrity. 2. I am not a criminal. 3. I am active in cyberspace so I must be aware of the implication of being active on it a part of it is knowing some details about me.
I don't dwell much on this things they can not get my SSS and my credit card number anyway.
I posted my photos on the net and now my face is scattered all over the cyber land. well that's the cons for joining and wishing for a little pay. However other details about me, are still secret and still kept. That's why I don't share private information here or in any other sites, I joined in, even in chatting site.
@scorpiobabes (7225)
• United States
11 Mar 13
It doesn't matter that you're not a celebrity. I'm sure that if you start digging, you'll find out just how much information about you IS available for public consumption. Find a computer-savvy friend and they'll shock you!
I've had 3 places I've lived broken into, and frankly, it scared me. As convenient it is to use online banking, I DO get concerned. I've stopped staying logged into certain websites-that's how you can get hacked.
@Mavic123456 (21893)
• Thailand
11 Mar 13
what happen has happened. all we can do is to take extra careful now, like deleting cache after logging off. be careful with the sites that we are visiting. and if suspicious don't open.
I just hope PayPal is safe.
@allknowing (137553)
• India
8 Mar 13
This happened a couple of years ago.Just like here in another forum where I am a member everyone's real name was displayed. I got rid of info from as many sites as possible.
@scorpiobabes (7225)
• United States
11 Mar 13
It's frustrating too-WE have to sign a privacy agreement, we're not allowed to criticize the site, yet OUR privacy was invaded. I'm still working on changing a few things. I think we all need a reminder once in a while, not a smack in the face, you know?
@natliegleb (5175)
• India
7 Mar 13
it was only 2 days ago and i decided to put an end to all the boring spam all the way
@scorpiobabes (7225)
• United States
7 Mar 13
Still-I know that I didn't ask to have my personal information here shared all over the internet. And it was a total violation of our privacy. The original event may have happened two days ago, but it's forever on the internet.
How did you figure our how to get rid of the boring spam? I get so much-and even requesting to be taken off the list hasn't really done me any good.
@ladyeaglefeather (228)
• United States
8 Mar 13
This is kind of scary. I myself came across a site that I had never heard of before. It had all of my personal information on it. I mean, even where I went to school and where I worked.
@scorpiobabes (7225)
• United States
11 Mar 13
Some of our information is public to begin with, and I think that some of the websites capitalized on it. I don't understand why everyone has to have to know EVERYTHING.
@AidaLily (1450)
• United States
7 Mar 13
I had checked it about a month ago to see what an employer might find if they look up my real name. As it stands, my name is common enough that I found many people with the same name on the internet and none of them were me. Most of them were older than me at that. lol.
However, my username has nothing truly personal about me minus age and location. When I go to apply for jobs and the like, I definitely won't tell them my username. They aren't even allowed to ask. On top of that, I have at least five different usernames depending on the site and if it is like a pen name or something.
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
7 Mar 13
I just checked it a while ago. I don't know where these sites get our names from but I certainly didn't give it to them. They have me still married to my ex which I've been divorced for over 10 years already....makes me sick. I have no idea how to get my name off these places.
I'm feeling pretty low right now with everything that's been going on here. I guess I'm not in a happy mood anymore....I was when I first came here this morning and it's changed since then.
@scorpiobabes (7225)
• United States
7 Mar 13
I'm sorry that you're letting this get you down. That's fine if they still have you married to your ex-that means that you can still go incognito! 
I think that there's just too many people that have nothing good going on in their lives, so they think of ways to hurt others, like us.
I think that there's just too many people that have nothing good going on in their lives, so they think of ways to hurt others, like us.
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
7 Mar 13
I will have to ask my brother about that. hes my pc tech here in my internet cafe. After what happen here today with my lot I will have him check mine for me.
@scorpiobabes (7225)
• United States
7 Mar 13
You are very fortunate that you have someone to help out. I started checking my username and was so shocked! I've already started doing some damage control, but I'm just not pleased with what I've found!
