Assessing the Risks


Just as there are risks from posting visual images (see Chapter 4, "Step 1: Be Careful What You Show People"), there are risks in posting text online. One important thing to understand is that it's not merely a single piece of information that typically does the damage. It's the accumulation of information out there about you that seals the deal for predators. That information might not even come from a single source. Predators might learn your first name from your instant messaging identity, your state from your blog profile, the college you went to from a blog entry, your current occupation from your school Web site's alumni section, your phone number from a white pages search, and so on. Before long, they have gathered enough information to come knocking on your front door or assume your identity.

Think About It

A common way to let others know you'll be out of town is to set up an away message in your e-mail program (see Figure 5-2). An away message automatically sends a reply to any messages that arrive, telling the senders you'll be away from your office or home. You should be careful about letting just anybody who e-mails you know your whereabouts. If a predator has figured out where you live, announcing that you're out of town for a defined period of time is practically an invitation to rob you.


Figure 5-2. An example of an away message


Remember that 50 percent of bloggers say they blog as a form of emotional therapy. Sharing information about your emotional state might seem harmless if you believe you are anonymous online. (See Chapter 2, "Misperceptions About Online Anonymity," for more about this.) Because you are often less anonymous than you believe, advertising your vulnerabilities beyond your closest circle of friends is seldom a good idea.



Look Both Ways. Help Protect Your Family on the Internet
Look Both Ways: Help Protect Your Family on the Internet
ISBN: 0735623473
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2004
Pages: 157
Authors: Linda Criddle

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