The danger of "lurkers and "lurking"

I agree. I've been a forum hound since they overtook newsgroups in popularity. I join forums for the cars I own, some of my software, personal interests, etc. Being the blabbermouth I am, I've put out all kinds of stuff about myself... like now. One time a forum was sold and the former owner hacked my account, posted trash, changed my password, deleted my registration, hacked my e-mail account, and on and on. He had to answer my secret security question for some things. Scared the crap out of me, but it got my attention. It finally settled down and I've tightened up since then and changed some of my habits. But I like to trust people, and sadly that can be a bad idea. Occasionally I get the paranoid feeling that he's still watching. Freakin' psycho.

RknRusty wrote:I agree. I've been a forum hound since they overtook newsgroups in popularity. I join forums for the cars I own, some of my software, personal interests, etc. Being the blabbermouth I am, I've put out all kinds of stuff about myself... like now. One time a forum was sold and the former owner hacked my account, posted trash, changed my password, deleted my registration, hacked my e-mail account, and on and on. He had to answer my secret security question for some things. Scared the crap out of me, but it got my attention. It finally settled down and I've tightened up since then and changed some of my habits. But I like to trust people, and sadly that can be a bad idea. Occasionally I get the paranoid feeling that he's still watching. Freakin' psycho.

scary Rusty there are some true wierdos on the web and then the great guys like you fellas.

For what I can control on here, you are all safe. Try not to say too much about yourself on any forum. I would avoid posting, email addresses (that is what the email button is for), your home address, your phone number, your birthday (m/d/y, I would say the year and even month would be okay, but try not to say the day), your full name (that is what usernames and your first name is for) and or any personal info. try to have your password be something that is completely random to anyone but you.

Admin wrote:For what I can control on here, you are all safe. Try not to say too much about yourself on any forum. I would avoid posting, email addresses (that is what the email button is for), your home address, your phone number, your birthday (m/d/y, I would say the year and even month would be okay, but try not to say the day), your full name (that is what usernames and your first name is for) and or any personal info. try to have your password be something that is completely random to anyone but you.

classic bit of internet safety there

This problem first raised its head for a friend of mine that I knew through ham radio ( the ORIGINAL chat room) when both small 2 meter radios became common and EVERYBODY put one in their car or had a handheld "walkie-talkie" - both worked via repeater (relay) stations on hill/mountain tops or tall buildings - what ever elevation you can get increases the coverage because it is line- of- sight (I talked to Owen Garriot on the Space Shuttle - both of us were using hand held radios with about 3w output, but, sorry, I digress).

There was a book we called the Callbook (now, of course, it is all on the web) that listed EVERYONE'S name and address by their call sign and you are required to state that call sign every 10 minutes is plain English.

My friend and his wife were involved in square dancing and when the went dancing, it was fairly common for him, being in the course of normal conversation between acquaintances, to say that they were going dancing, etc. Never gave it a thought. Then one night the came home from dancing and found their house essentially cleaned out. Co-incidence? Maybe...

Nobody had really ever given it a thought. After all, you were buddies shooting bull for the most part. Usually about radio but often about personal interest and activities - it is only natural. Frankly, that is one part about ham radio that I enjoy when it happens. I have "met" some very interesting people and owe my carrier AND my wife's job.. Pretty much everything I own, to ham radio and one of those relationships in particular (though we didn't meet on the air, he was a early customer when I started my business).

Since then, my records list my office as a mailing address (they used to make you list a station location, but those days are long gone and information wasn't as available or open, then.

So, fast forward 30 years...

Regarding excessive ""blabbing" a WWII slogan says it best:

"Loose lips sink ships."