For People Who Post the Names of Others on Forums..

It's creepy, you should stop.

I don't care if you're trying to find out more information before dating someone, or just trying to trash someone, or even trying to compliment someone. Posting someone's full name is just inviting disaster.

I can take someone's first and last name, find their facebook/myspace/random other social networking site. I can find where they live (like, detailed address where they live, not just a city), their phone number, their sexual orientation, where they went to school (and with a bit of social engineering, even their grades), birthday, significant other, hobbies, favorite places to hang out, etc. With a little work and some of the above information, I can just as easily obtain a social security number, credit cards, bank accounts, etc.

Now you should stop and think about this for a moment. Are you prepared for someone to figure out who you are and post YOUR name up on a forum? Do you really want someone as deliciously malevolent as I am to gain access to your most private information, or even some of your dirty secrets?

I've tried to point this simple truth out to my fellow Jonesboroians only to be told to "piss off" a few times. People need to wake up. It doesn't even take a skilled hacker to steal your identity and create a world of chaos for you. It just takes someone who has people skills and a brain.

Update:

Here's a little something that should scare you:

Facebook give out info of 100 million users