There was a discussion on the forum about using your name or trying to hide your identity to avoid being identified by your colleagues, employers or the authorities.
Well you may as well go “open” since it doesn’t work anyhow.
Everybody with a bit of knowledge of the technique can apparently identify you through your machine or device anyhow:
I’ve been open on the internet since before it was the internet. I’ve never found it to be a hindrance.
Cheers,
Earl
5 Likes
Wait, what? You went by your own name back in the BBS days? I thought that was when everyone had an inventive nick 
Going by my own name has its pros and cons. It does add some gravitas to my statements, preempting anyone who wants to use the “Hah you say that while hiding behind your anonymity!” argument. On the other hand, I sometimes want to discuss things that reflects poorly on my customers or somesuch, which basic professionalism dictates that I refrain from doing publicly.
There are levels of anonymity. For most purposes, it’s good enough to simply mask my name so it doesn’t get puked up by a basic google search; Whether a skilled analyst could identify me is irrelevant. Then there are things that are not to be discussed without some proper anonymity; There are tools for that purpose. Finally, it should be understood that if heavy players really want to know who you are, they will figure it out. Ask Ross Ulbricht.
3 Likes
I expect he’s talking about ARPAnet.
I assume my employer can figure out who I am. If I start posting classified information I’m sure there’ll be someone knocking on my door.
Anonymity and encryption is good for making someone a harder target. It won’t make anyone impervious. Someone can always break threw. You just don’t want to be the easiest target and invite someone to try.
Or as the joke goes, you don’t need to run faster than the lion. You only need to run faster than the slowest person running from the lion.
5 Likes
Then there are those who post every possible detail of their life on sites such as facebook and come home after a vacation to find they no longer have any furniture.
4 Likes
Right. boebert@MIT-Multics The ARPAnet directory was hard copy, about the size of a small town phone book.
Cheers,
Earl
You don’t need to swim faster than the shark, you only need to swim faster than the slowest seal.
2 Likes
Latest analysis of the case in subject:
1 Like
There’s a reason they call it still photography…I expect he changes to the green ones on Sundays, but it doesn’t change his avatar.
I didn’t get to see the entire post by Chopshopscotty (what a name!!) but I guess I was the centre of attraction again?
The pix was taken after a trip to catch crabs and collect scallops, so the attire was entirely appropriate at the time.
That I posted it as my avatar may surprise some, since it isn’t exactly flattering.
Fortunately I’m not that self-conscious and don’t worried all that much about other people’s opinion of my attire.
Not that it matters much, but using a silly nickname isn’t much better, especially when you know it doesn’t keep your identity secret anyhow.
When I retire from my present position, there will be a tell-all. I’m settin fire to that shit, oh yesirree
(figuratively speaking, of course)
4 Likes
2 Likes
And now Google is getting people’s medical records:
Google Accessing Medical Records
What could possibly go wrong?
Earl
4 Likes
This internet tracking has gotten out of control. The EU finally passed a law that at least informs the unwary they are being tracked.
It would be much better if one was not tracked by default. Privacy is nonexistent now by default.
3 Likes
The CIA analysised the health of some Russian by secretly collecting a stool sample. Steps are taken to make sure that the same thing doesn’t happen to POTUS. I thought it was a step to far when google acquired Fitbit not that I could be bothered by one.
Don’t know about being anonymous but the adverts I get on the main site are most often for womens clothes…
is Google trying to tell me something?
1 Like
I don’t know where your IP address pings to, if that’s the right terminology but if I so much as click on an ad or type in a word in a Google search, I get peppered with ads focused on that subject. I wouldn’t be surprised if my emails were being monitored for the same purpose. It’s troubling to me but maybe the younger crowd who grew up with the internet and cell phones from birth considers it perfectly normal.
They keep saying that cookies help them provide targeted ads.
If they had any intellegence, they would understand that if they target me with ads… I will simply refuse to buy shatever they are advertising and in necessity buy from a competitor…
I get a lot of adverts for cruises. European river cruises, Alaska cruises, Mississippi paddle boat. Talk about wasting their pixels. Now if they advertised ‘Stay at home and do nothing!’ I’d be all in.
2 Likes