Security issues- Personal information in discussions
By Wanderlaugh
@Wanderlaugh (1622)
Australia
March 4, 2007 10:12pm CST
Maybe it's just me, but I see a lot of questions which relate to things that might be used to access personal information.
Let me first say that a lot of these discussions would be quite harmless, with no intention whatsoever to intrude or to get information beyond the basic questions. I know of at least one person who asked a question specifically because he wasn't too thrilled with his browser.
Things like "what browser do you use", "do you use PayPal or e-gold" "which is better, Mastercard of Amex", or "which anti-virus do you use" and other information which in theory could provide information to people trying access accounts or other personal information.
Even if the questions are quite innocent, some of the people reading the answers might not be so innocent. We've had a few "interesting" queries over the last month or so about where to get hacking tips, etc.
Trust isn't my middle name. I don't take things on the net for granted. My advice would be a state of healthy paranoia. Opinions?
2 people like this
5 responses
@emiliano75 (680)
• Italy
5 Mar 07
Well i read lot of forum about security in internet... I have this idea: is an hacker choise your pc as him target you can do nothing!
There are some linux os developed for penetrating tests ( them are used to check security level in your pc, but if an hacker use one of this he can enter in your pc and take all informations and data what he want and make an attack look like a barbarian attack). Using this os ah hacker can discover: your os type and version, which antivirus you are using, which port is not protected by your firewall and use lot of tools for take control of your pc!!!!
1 person likes this
@emiliano75 (680)
• Italy
5 Mar 07
Basic security rules:
-use a good antivirus;
-use anti keylogger software;
-for business use only prepaid credit cards;
-if you use a tool for encrypted your data choise a very long key to encrypt your data;
-don't open attachments or email from people you don't know;
-use tools for safe erase your datas;
-choice very difficult password and camuffage it (Es: Mountains = W0vnt41n5);
-use tools for sniffing your connection
@Wanderlaugh (1622)
• Australia
5 Mar 07
*****Note emiliano's comments, please, people.
Thanks for that emiliano. The immediate concern here is that discussions can unintentionally provide targeting information. Fully equipped hackers are able to do these things, as emiliano says, without any info.
However- account info is potentially telling them where to look. Someone who's been hitting credit cards, for example, if told which one you use, has that much extra information. Knowing what browser, anit-virus or operating system you're using also means you're saying what sort of security you have. It's like telling someone where the front door key is, even if all they have to do is break a window to get in.
emiliano has given us some very useful information for protection. I'm saying don't supply security related info in discussions to make it even easier for them.
@emiliano75 (680)
• Italy
6 Mar 07
Thanks for your comment:-) I hope this post shuold be used for increase level of security in our pc. I like so much pc security and i usually i read lof of forum about this
@emiliano75 (680)
• Italy
6 Mar 07
Few days ago i was reading in a website a news....
For be admitted in an hacker forum you must have an exam: attack in 5 minutes a computer protected by a firewall :-)
1 person likes this
@caramello (4377)
• Australia
5 Mar 07
This is so true what you have bought up and unfortunately some of us do tend to give out more info. than we probably should as there seems to be ways now of some being able to do harm by the info. they pick up!
It comes down to not thinking that this could happen to us as with all the safety we take to avoid this from happening we do slip up and then they pounce.
Recently watched a movie called "Hackers" and it was very interesting as to how far some go, and even though it was just a movie, makes me wonder how much of it was real and actually going on today! A movie worth seeing if you have not already seen it!
@Wanderlaugh (1622)
• Australia
6 Mar 07
There's a thing called the 2600 Club, a sort of hackers' forum/ news site, which is worth a look. Apparently they're not too impressed with the common hacker image themselves, and find a lot of the nasties pretty childish. The problems seem to be coming from the criminal elements now learning how to use hacker software. They're not so much hackers themselves as opportunists. I'll have a look out for that movie.
@craftwave (1338)
• United States
6 Mar 07
I try to be paranoid while using the computer or in my discussions. Its better to be safe then sorry. I have read alot of these discussions and wondered why people share some of the info that they do to complete strangers. It is way to easy to feel secure in a site like this.
1 person likes this
@Wanderlaugh (1622)
• Australia
6 Mar 07
Yeah, giving someone a virtual how-to manual in a couple of lines. At least here people generally seem to be a bit more netwise than elsewhere. I think a site like myspace would be pretty risky.
@applsofgld (2506)
• United States
5 Mar 07
This is a GREAT discussion topic, and well needed. I too am of a suspicious nature about everything. I try to be very discreet about what information I disclose. I would hope everyone would do the same. I try to answer discussions with as much information as I can without really giving out any personal information about myself or my family/friends. In the times we live in, you can never be too careful, about anything. Thank you for bringing this up.
@Wanderlaugh (1622)
• Australia
5 Mar 07
I'm going to be very interested to see what sort of reaction this gets. One problem I see is that people are a bit habituated to forums, and information is a bit too easy to get.
