21-06-2001 19:01									#1
	Birthdays - potential security problem? Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

A difficult and perhaps controversial topic, but one that I think bears mentioning:

While I imagine it gives a warm feeling to see one's birthday proclaimed on the main page, releasing that information on the internet is risky behavior. Information on birthdate could be exploited by two of the lowest life forms on the internet: identity thiefs and pedophiles. Identity theft requires a few key pieces of information: name, birthdate, address, identification number, mother's maiden name. Birthdate is provided in the profile of many users, and their name, in many cases, can be read directly or deduced from their handle or email address. Street address is easily found using one of the many "find people" engines on the web. In many cases, users are kind enough to narrow down the search to a city or area with their location field.

I don't want to sound too paranoid here, but I think a certain healthy suspicion is warranted. Caution is particularly advisable for the younger members, who are often the most open about their personal information. Perhaps a warning of some sort is in order?

	21-06-2001 19:31									#2
	Increase the size of your Attachments

i dont see a big issue, mainly due to the protection of e-mail addresses

even if you have the "Hide Email Address?" option turned to "no", there is no way to see the mail address of the user. it is not shown on the page, nor is it hidden in the html source.

	23-06-2001 05:33									#3
	Increase Your PM Length

i dont think we got too many young girls here to warrant hiding information from the pediophiles...

The number of gay people here is a worry though !!!

	23-06-2001 06:38									#4
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Yeah. All of us just sit around all day thinking of raping little kids.

	23-06-2001 06:39									#5
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

Oh, and MikeH too.

See my sig for details.

	23-06-2001 06:49									#6
	Increase Your PM Length

quote: Originally posted by ACOLKitty Oh, and MikeH too. See my sig for details.

All dpeneds on country you are in i guess

	23-06-2001 11:29									#7
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Georgia is not a country.

	23-06-2001 11:49									#8
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quote: Originally posted by ACOLKitty Georgia is not a country.

Since when?

	23-06-2001 14:39									#9
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

There are 11 Spink households in the Manchester area...

	23-06-2001 16:23									#10
	Inflate your Upload Space

And 11 Athens in the world. But only one has the Acropolis.

	23-06-2001 20:09									#11
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

Showing the birthday is an option. isn't it?

If someone is concerned about security, can they not chose to not display their B-Day?

	23-06-2001 21:05									#12
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quote: Originally posted by ACOLKitty Georgia is not a country.

Depends on which Georgia you're talking about...

	23-06-2001 22:26									#13
	Increase the size of your Attachments

I am probably one of the people in question here. (I'm 13.)
I am not particularly worried though... some people know my first name, but nobody knows my last name or address. Also, a civ site isn't the first place pedophiles would look. There are very few members under 16 as well.

BTW, I think I am Apolyton's youngest consistent member. I wonder who's the oldest.

	24-06-2001 18:25									#14
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probably ming, he always comes across as some wise old man , i'd guess about 60

glad to see your consistnet firedragon... do you actually paly a civ game or just post here for fun ??

	26-06-2001 03:24									#15
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Both. Civ 1, Civ 2, Colonization, Gettysburg, anything that Sid Meier was remotely involved with. I always wonder why the entire civ community is me, my sister, and a bunch of old fogies who don't have a life.

I think people have gotten a bit too worried about security online. Pedophiles

1. Would not go to a civ site to try to find kids, they would go to a kids romance chatroom, or some dumb place like that
   
2. only target people that they can arrange to meet
   
3. Can't find you unless they both know the area and your first and last names. (Or address)
   

Also, even if they can find their way to your house, how do they know that you won't call the cops on them when they try to get in. The media has gotten too obsessed with this topic, like they have with gas prices.

Random irrelevant comment:

I've noticed that californians are coming here less and less... HA HA! You don't have power and we do!!!!!!!!!!!!

	26-06-2001 06:02									#16
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quote: Originally posted by Rasputin probably ming, he always comes across as some wise old man , i'd guess about 60 glad to see your consistnet firedragon... do you actually paly a civ game or just post here for fun ??

I think Ming metioned something about starting social security last month. IIRC

	29-06-2001 01:47									#17
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Besides we dont want to chat up the young boys, jsut the young girls !! ,


*****************************
Slaps self round the ears a few times
*****************************

	29-06-2001 08:23									#18
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quote: Originally posted by ACOLKitty Yeah. All of us just sit around all day thinking of raping little kids.

I knew it! I just knew it! I'm sending a copy of this post to the Family Life website. People gotta know about this before it's too late.

	30-06-2001 11:26									#19
	Put an end to popups!

oh no, i better go hide , i have been discovered !!!!!

	30-06-2001 12:02									#20
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

as you can see dave, there isnt much of a problem....