Lets get to the true internet facts. 1) Most identity theft comes from "dumpster diving" (going through a persons trash), from stealing mail that contains bank and credit card statements, intercepting unsecure and poorly secured credit card/echeck transactions over the internet, and through the use of camera phones where they take photos of your credit cards and checks over your shoulder. There has never been a documented case of someone using genealogical information obtained on the internet to steal an identity. This is because in order to obtain credit you need a social security number or if a business you need an EIN. Most family trees do not give out this information. Many banks and other institutions have long given up the practice of asking for your mother's maiden name. It is fear like this that is closing access to documents for all of us doing family research. Identity theft is real, but the genealogical community is not where the bad guys obtain their information.
2) Most child predators do not usually surf on genealogy websites. They are out lurking at places like myspace and utube and other social sites and chatrooms. This is where they contact your children. However, always be careful with your childrens information. 3) If this is a website to be shared by just family members, there are plenty of easy security features you can use to keep out unwanted individuals, like passwords or you can use a service like myfamy.com to have a secure webite. This way only those you invite and give a password to can access the information. Linda Altman http://www.southerngenealogy.com -----Original Message----- From: Heather Stovold [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, January 07, 2008 9:00 PM To: LegacyUserGroup@legacyfamilytree.com Subject: Re: [LegacyUG] past tense wording on web page report I know you have already rethougt putting the info on the internet for you living family - just thought I'd add another reason. You mentioned the info would be for your immediate family, including children, and would include stuff like hobbies, the church you attend etc. Although somewhat rare (but not nearly rare enough), not only is there the threat of identity theft (which has already been mentioned to you) - there is ALSO the risk of your children becoming prey to paedophiles and kidnappers. It really doesn't take a lot of info for someone to find out your kids names, where they live, what they are interested in, etc - and then befriend them using all that info to the advantage of the "bad guy". Unfortunately, too many kids give way too much info about themselves on the internet on their own. I ran a blog for my Cub Pack (Scouting is another hobby) - and the location of our pack is never made clear, meeting places are never said too specifically, and all children when mentioned are only mentioned by their initials. In fact, all the adults are only called by their "Jungle Names". (I am Raksha - I can tell you that because in Canada, probably 25% of the packs would have a Raksha. The other main leader names is Akela - which 99.99% of packs would have an Akela) Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.17.13/1213 - Release Date: 1/7/2008 9:14 AM Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
