I heard this for the first time recently, despite being online for hours of every day for the last 15 years, and despite witnessing a couple of examples of it.
So what is it? Here’s the definition the Urban Dictionary gives, you’ll note it’s from 2008
Some examples;
- in an anonymous forum someone figures out who you are IRL (in real life) and publishes your real name.
- your social security number ends up on a site based in the former soviet union – and you’re the First Lady, Michelle Obama
- the head of FBI’s home address was posted online (although an out-of-date address)
It sounds like a problem, and it could be in some cases, but it’s legal. Or at least it’s legal to re-publish public information.
If the information is obtained by hacking or by social engineering then a crime may have be committed, and if the information is used to infiltrate emails, commit fraud or to threaten someone that is a crime.
But publishing public information? Not a problem.
Which means we should all be smart about how much information we share online, but as the number of devices we use grows, and the amount we communicate online grows this gets harder.
image: address book via pixabay
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