Ewww, yes, there are definitely many like that online. Thankfully, many sites allow people to use 'pen names', which can decrease the ability of stalkers and other creeps to track activity.
This year I have been a lurker much of the time. Sometimes I'm just so busy I don't have time for posting, but I do miss my friends, so I will pop in long enough to see how y'all are doing. Some times I am so sad that I just don't want to bring the sadness to my place of solace. Some of my best friends are on this site, and y'all bring joy and encouragement to my heart. (((((HUGS)))))) to everyone of you for lightening my depressions.
Given the very friendly nature of this forum, I don't believe that there are people who do such a thing on this forum, as it would not be benefficial to spy on such friendly persons as the ones who usually write here. Even though there is the posibility of such persons spying around, I don't believe it is a thing we should actually worry about.
I wouldn't think so, but there are a lot of them around. Most people have no clue until their MySpace page gets highjacked, the email address changed, and everyone on their friend list, all their private messages, and comments have vanished into thin air.
Not enough information is asked of you here for a forum to be a valuable source for identity theft. While I have no doubt that identity theft is a real problem, this information is usually gained from sources that we might consider more reliable, such as the government and large shopping sites, who have this information. There is reason to be concerned about identity theft, but I strongly believe that these fears are exaggerated for at least a couple of reasons. One, to give the government reason to extract even more of our privacy rights, in the name of security, and to enrich companies that are in the business of cyber-security. As side topic, have you ever wondered why it is that large companies and the government are not held responsible for keeping our information safe, but that it is up to individuals to do so. If I am entrusted with something that belongs to someone else, I am responsible for anything that might happen to it. I've been online since before the Internet, having run a computer BBS for a decade before Internet access became widely available. You can learn pretty much everything you might want to know about me online, with the exception of my social security number, either through my own name or through my handle (kfander), which I have used since BBS times, before computers were able to create files of more than eight digits. Nearly every incidence of "kfander" that you might find online is me. Yet, my identity has never been hijacked. I use my real name. I talk about where I grew up, where I worked and so on, but I suspect that most of us are probably not among the demographics of people whose identities are targeted.
I come in and read sometimes when I don't have time to reply. I have a grandson who lives with me. He has a three year old son. We have him from Friday evening until Sunday evening. So if I don't post on weekends, you know what I am doing. Most likely playing in the sandbox, pushing him in the swing and other fun stuff.
Just to be clear, I don't consider someone to be a lurker just because they don't post every time they are here. A lurker is someone who never posts, or who seldom posts. I also have no objection to lurkers, other than that I would like to encourage them to become participants.
I wasn't even thinking about identity theft. If someone tried it the joke would be on them. The first time they tried to use my credit, and got laughed out of the building I bet they would happily give it back. I was thinking more along the lines of psycho stalker. Ex boyfriend/girlfriend, or a "Fatal Attraction" fling.
It pays to be careful though Read this http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/wo...rofile-pictures-ending-up-on-a-porn-site.html
I don't think we should be afraid of such individuals. If you are careful about what links you follow, and if you have a strong password, you can't really be hijacked anymore.
Do you think as I do, that much is made of all this doom laden hijacking/identity theft etc so that we panic and buy expensive security to avoid it !