Going public

[Banjo-guy]

Because I've just started to use my actual picture instead of an avatar I was wondering if there is any actual risk in using my photo. I don't really see how my picture could be used in a negative way. I understand the desire to be somewhat anonymous. Am I missing something? Is there anyway way that an internet phisher could use a picture from an internet board in a negative way?

[jimjohson]

All I can see is somebody could hijack your pic and claim that's what they look like. to what ends, I can't imagine. I'd be more worried about my name and address being in a phone book.

[RickBeer]

Because I've just started to use my actual picture instead of an avatar I was wondering if there is any actual risk in using my photo. I don't really see how my picture could be used in a negative way. I understand the desire to be somewhat anonymous. Am I missing something? Is there anyway way that an internet phisher could use a picture from an internet board in a negative way?

Sometimes people are careless in how they use the web, revealing data about themselves (name, birthday, address, names of family members, etc.) without realizing how people can connect the dots quite easily. They don't realize the conclusions people can make.

Some examples:

- Come on a forum, talk about dinner, say you're going out to eat, gotta go. Your name and city are known, now your house is empty and people know.

- Talk about how you're in a particular city, away from home. Since your name and city are known, your house is empty and people know.

- Provide your actual date of birth to an online forum. Many services you access, like your doctor, use your name and date of birth to access records. I called my doctor yesterday, they asked name and date of birth. Now I can freely discuss your medical records.

- Use social media to say "I'm on my way to Vegas baby!". Again, house empty...

It isn't the forum members you need to worry about, you need to understand that the forum is searchable by anyone via search engines and software and predators look for things like this.

As far as a picture, there is software, including some from Google, that takes a picture and scans the internet looking to identify it. Once it's identified, you can then find that person in any other picture. Use your picture here and on Facebook - and it's easy to identify you.

Someone can also take your picture and put your head on a nude picture and then blackmail you. However, if they use Inkleg's body you have nothing to fear...

[Chuck N]

Because I've just started to use my actual picture instead of an avatar I was wondering if there is any actual risk in using my photo. I don't really see how my picture could be used in a negative way. I understand the desire to be somewhat anonymous. Am I missing something? Is there anyway way that an internet phisher could use a picture from an internet board in a negative way?

I guess about the only thing I could think that people would want to use my picture for is to keep vermin out of their garden. :shrug:

[Beer-lord]

Because I've just started to use my actual picture instead of an avatar I was wondering if there is any actual risk in using my photo. I don't really see how my picture could be used in a negative way. I understand the desire to be somewhat anonymous. Am I missing something? Is there anyway way that an internet phisher could use a picture from an internet board in a negative way?

I guess about the only thing I could think that people would want to use my picture for is to keep vermin out of their garden. :shrug:

Dude, you look hugaable to me...........in a manly way, of course!

[Banjo-guy]

How about this version? I put the photo though a line art program.

[jimjohson]

RickBeer you make some good points, I also have turned off the "announce to the world where you are" feature in my ipad. might as well put a sign in front of your house.

[mtsoxfan]

Banjo, that makes you look 15 again... hey, hmmmm....

[Kealia]

Dude, you look hugaable to me...........in a manly way, of course!

Please, just remember the rules:

[Inkleg]

Dude, you look hugaable to me...........in a manly way, of course!

Please, just remember the rules:

Yeah, but where's the awkward fun in that.

[Banjo-guy]

That's like the nuns telling us that we had to put a phone book between us when we danced.

[Banjo-guy]

Banjo, that makes you look 15 again... hey, hmmmm....

If I look 15 in that picture I really have to watch out for internet predators!

[mtsoxfan]

Not to get too far off topic, but all freshmen have to sit through an internet safety presentation, from and ex cop who works for the FBI catching these people. I used to send my kids and go correct papers. I sat through the last one, and it is more intense than I thought. Sop easy to prey on kids. And a site called Kik, I think, based outside the US is one of the worst.... What is going on in this world???

[Yankeedag]

I use my real photo and nobody bothers me.

[mtsoxfan]

Looking all sexy like that, six pack abs and all???