Pssst! - Pass it along - After all, the Internet will if you don't!
I have posted in the past about how we all need to be careful about what we post on the Internet, be it through social media or any other method (email comes to mind). Nothing is private anymore unless YOU keep it that way.
I have even gone as far as to email and call people I know and let them know DIRECTLY that the postings about their upcoming vacations are dangerous. Many say, "you're right, Sid. I shouldn't do that." Then they go ahead and do it again. Some say, "I have a vicious dog, so I'm not worried." I'll say this right here and right now:
These otherwise intelligent people are acting REALLY STUPIDLY!
I don't understand this. At all.
I don't get the draw of telling someone that they are going to be in Tahiti for two weeks straight with their entire family and that they will be putting their dog in Fetch, that cute little doggy daycare center ten miles from their house.
WHY WOULD THEY DO THAT???
Is a jealousy thing? Do they want to impress their friends?
Do they understand that the difference between putting a neon sign up over their house saying:
"We aren't home and won't be for two weeks starting next Thursday - By the way, the dog won't be here either!"
and putting it on the Internet is that the sign only let's people know who are driving through their neighborhood or whoever sees it on the evening news:
"News Flash!"
The silly family living at 5555 West Valley Lane, Fort Wayne, Indiana are going on vacation for two weeks on Thursday and they just bought a new 60" TV, according to Mrs. Peabody who lives across the street. Interviews with their trash guys indicate they also took delivery of a brand new Dell desktop PC with twin 21" monitors and a Bose 7-piece home theatre sound system four weeks ago.
See live video of the robbery on Friday's newscast at 11."
while posting it on the Internet lets EVERYONE IN THE WORLD know about it. Someone from Wisconsin or Seattle could come by and take their stuff instead of someone local.
Go ahead. Post about your vacation. Just do it after you get back.
The reason for this rant is that I ran across a great article by Kathy Kristof on CBS MoneyWatch.com entitled "6 Things You Should Never Reveal on Facebook. "
You might recognize #2.
The other five are really good to follow also, because privacy is dead, unless we protect it ourselves.
Please - "Be Careful Out There" (Steven Bochco by way of the late Sgt. Phil Esterhaus, Hill Street Blues)
Posted by Sid Plait at 1/11/2011 12:28 PM 
Categories: Too much Information!, Email, All, Internet, PC Security, Big Mistakes, Critical thinking, Identity Theft, Technology, OMG!, Social Media
Tags: Security Internet security Privacy Robbery Theft email Facebook Social Media
Categories: Too much Information!, Email, All, Internet, PC Security, Big Mistakes, Critical thinking, Identity Theft, Technology, OMG!, Social Media
Tags: Security Internet security Privacy Robbery Theft email Facebook Social Media
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