Risks In Social Networking: PleaseRobMe While I'm Out

[engine]

Risks In Social Networking: PleaseRobMe While I'm Out [news.bbc.co.uk]

A website called PleaseRobMe claims to reveal the location of empty homes based on what people post online.

The Dutch developers told BBC News the site was designed to prove a point about the dangers of sharing precise location information on the internet.

The site scrutinises players of online game Foursquare, which is based on a person's location in the real world.

PleaseRobMe extracts information from players who have chosen to post their whereabouts automatically onto Twitter.

It's all about too much information, and that most people don't realise they have said a great deal about themsleves, their whereabouts, and activities, all to be abused by those that want to live the crooked life.

[g1smd]

Augmented Reality might make that even easier for the criminal.

[ChanandlerBong]

In all my years online, I've probably revealed what car I drive and what type of dog I have - and nothing more.

when people get typing on fb or forums, they sometimes get carried away and give information away that can be used against them.

or, alternatively, as my old buddy Eric Schmidt once said:

If you have something that you don’t want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn’t be doing it in the first place.

[abhoy]

If we can maintain certain limits of sharing our personal info then there is no prob. This is we who provide our personal info and giving opportunity to the criminals. On the other hand this is also true that social networking is not so bad. It joins us with the rest of the globe. Just be cautious but not over cautious.

[jkovar]

It's strange how different "neighbors" are online VS offline.

If I accidentally left my shed open when I went on vacation my next door neighbor would close it for me and keep an eye on my house while I was gone.

But online, my "neighbors" will basically go tell the whole neighborhood my shed is unlocked and that I'll be away on vacation for awhile.

[Automan Empire]

Is PleaseBurgleMe still available?

[frontpage]

Hey Google fans, don't worry!

Google has already jumped on top of this security problem by embedding your geolocation in your browser so any website you visit can also obtain your whereabouts.

Google Toolbar with My Location

[freejung]

If you have something that you don’t want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn’t be doing it in the first place.

I don't know... that's dangerously close to the "only the guilty need worry" attitude that is behind the acceptance of so many invasions of privacy. How does it apply in this case? Are you saying that I shouldn't ever leave my house if I don't want people to know I'm not home? That makes no sense.

There are details of everyone's life that they should not be sharing with the world, for various reasons, many of which are perfectly legitimate. To pick just one other example, if I am being treated for a mental illness, I might not want my boss or my co-workers to know about it for fear of workplace discrimination. By the above logic, I should just not seek treatment.

The whole idea that you only have to worry about your privacy being invaded if you're doing something wrong is deeply flawed and very dangerous.

[caribguy]

I believe CHB's comment was tongue in cheek:

Schmidt himself had supposedly imposed a year-long ban on (CNET) for publishing personal information about him that was easily retrievable with Google's search engine.

[techstyled]

What I am concerned about, and what I wish something like this would change, is that people who would normally use critical thinking in weighing things in their everyday life seem to abandon that practice when it comes to things online.

"What, free smileys on my computer... of course, thanks"

"What, a game based on giving you my geoinformation, great"

"What, free statistics just for giving you my web traffic and ecommerce information, of course"

I'm really just being selfish I guess. Thinking of all the time I'd have if I didn't have to listen to all my aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, cousins, friends, etc. computer problems because their system is flooded with malcrap because they were playing mafia or farming (using that as only an example).

Just saying we don't as a whole seem to be as discerning online as we are in real life is all.

[Cindywho]

The site is down right now

[piatkow]

Google has already jumped on top of this security problem by embedding your geolocation in your browser

Another reason for not using third party toolbars.

If I wanted to burgle somebody I would go to a popular music forum and see what events people were agreeing to meet up at. The only down side would be that the expensive guitar would be at the gig not in the empty house.

[Edge]

Risks In Social Networking: PleaseRobMe While I'm Out

Thanks for the ideal..

[JS_Harris]

edited for my own good. We have no privacy anyway, Google "RFID" devices.

[kapow]

If you have something that you don’t want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn’t be doing it in the first place.

True if:
- Big business and authorities are never negligent,
- Big business and authorities put your safety above their gain,
- Big business and authorities are never corrupt,
- Big business and authorities are always secure with data/power,
- Big business and authorities will keep this year's promises,
- Big business and authorities always plan responsibly,
- Big business and authorities are never prejudiced,
...shall I go on?