Cyber Alter Ego
>> Sunday, September 21, 2008
I can't express how much I appreciated all the sweet birthday wishes!
Birthday Sunday was great; Red Robin was delicious, the cookies lived up to their reputation, and the banana pudding - well, I can just be out-of-control about that.
AND, I don't feel even a minute older!
I've enjoyed experiencing my birthday with my internet friends. It is however, an example of how those of us that have blogs, facebook or my space pages, tend to share personal information over the course of time.
We often reveal the very details that happen to also be our "secret" personal tidbits that help websites verify our identity via security questions.
Once upon a time, long before I had a blog, I'd read a book (it had something to do with selling on ebay) that recommended that you supply "bogus" answers to the questions that were supposed to provide extra protection from just "anyone" logging on to your account or changing your password.
Before I'd read that, it would have never occurred to me to lie to a computer, to answer a question with anything but the truth.
Now I know how much fun it is to fictionalize my responses.
It is wise and simple to have, say, a cyber alter ego: create fake answers to questions, or even an entire phony identity. Use a theme to make things easy to remember.
You can turn to just about anything for inspiration: a favorite book, movie, tv series, etc. I could simply wander into the kitchen:
See, it's easy. And then when we blog about our pets, and hometowns, our friends, our childhood experiences, we aren't divulging anything to be used against us.
Birthday Sunday was great; Red Robin was delicious, the cookies lived up to their reputation, and the banana pudding - well, I can just be out-of-control about that.
Nice gifts: camera accessories, a DVD, a hummingbird feeder, and even a "shower" gift for my indulgent nightly ritual.
AND, I don't feel even a minute older!
I've enjoyed experiencing my birthday with my internet friends. It is however, an example of how those of us that have blogs, facebook or my space pages, tend to share personal information over the course of time.
We often reveal the very details that happen to also be our "secret" personal tidbits that help websites verify our identity via security questions.
Once upon a time, long before I had a blog, I'd read a book (it had something to do with selling on ebay) that recommended that you supply "bogus" answers to the questions that were supposed to provide extra protection from just "anyone" logging on to your account or changing your password.
Before I'd read that, it would have never occurred to me to lie to a computer, to answer a question with anything but the truth.
Now I know how much fun it is to fictionalize my responses.
It is wise and simple to have, say, a cyber alter ego: create fake answers to questions, or even an entire phony identity. Use a theme to make things easy to remember.
You can turn to just about anything for inspiration: a favorite book, movie, tv series, etc. I could simply wander into the kitchen:
- Favorite color: chocolate brown
- Mother's maiden name: Crocker
- Street you grew up on: Domino Sugar Aisle
- First grade teacher: Mrs. Butterworth
- Grandfather's occupation: Gorton Fisherman
- Best childhood friend: Little Debbie
- Favorite historical person: Cap'n Crunch
- Father's middle name: Folgers
See, it's easy. And then when we blog about our pets, and hometowns, our friends, our childhood experiences, we aren't divulging anything to be used against us.
Posts
4 comments:
How do you manage to remember those bogus answers if ever you need them? :-o
Shortly after I first went online, I read someone's suggestion to not give your real age when asked at internet sites. She said she always gave her birthdate as ten years after she was actually born. I've been doing that ever since. Maybe I'll start doing that in 'real' life....;-Þ
I'd forgotten all about your shower ritual. I clicked the link and reread it, thinking to myself "I wonder why I never read this before?", then scrolled down to the comments and saw where I had indeed commented. Sheesh. ;-Þ
I'm glad you had a good birthday, and the hummer feeder is beautiful!
I read an article about this very thing recently and it was right on target. There are times when as I blog I try to consider how people might come across the information there and did I want to be found like that.
Glad your birthday was a good one. Did you save some cookies for us?
I did read that it is highly unlikely that anyone would be able to do it. It would take a really really determined person. Not that they don't exist- I just wouldn't stay up at night worrying about it either.
They suggested having a standard made up answer for each of those questions OR you can just misspell your answers.
Like if your mothers maiden name was "Jackson" you could always spell it "Jakson" for those question things.
Fantastic idea!!!!!!!!!!!
Post a Comment