Creepy app - you have been warned!

[Ndi-mi]

Creepy app warns of an end to privacy | thinq_

Creepy is a software package for Linux or Windows - with a Mac OS X port in the works - that aims to gather public information on a targeted individual via social networking services in order to pinpoint their location.

When the software finishes its run, it presents you with a map visualizing every location that it found - and that's when the hairs on the back of your neck go up. While the location of an individual tweet might not reveal much, visualizing a user's history on a map reveals clusters around their home, their workplace, and the areas they hang out. Everything a stalker could need, in other words.

[aziyade]

From the article:

"It's a constant fight between our right to be 'left alone' and our need for exhibitionism. Let's see which one wins."

It constantly amazes me how much information people will share on social media sites. How easy is it to be a stalker in 2011? It IS creepy.

[LeylaFahada]

From the article:

"It's a constant fight between our right to be 'left alone' and our need for exhibitionism. Let's see which one wins."

It constantly amazes me how much information people will share on social media sites. How easy is it to be a stalker in 2011? It IS creepy.

Social media might make stalking a thing of the past. How do you get your perverse thrill when your target does all the work for you and everyone else too?

[*Shira*]

Speaking of creepy apps, have you seen this one?

Spokeo People Search | White Pages | Find People

[aziyade]

HA! That one says I make $125,000 a year! Wonder where I'm keeping it...

[Lara L]

HA! That one says I make $125,000 a year! Wonder where I'm keeping it...

How did you get the income info without logging in/paying to subscribe? All I can see is that my home is worth more than I thought it was and I don't have any kids...

[aziyade]

Oh -- maybe that's what it's supposed to be. I thought it was income.

I guess that's more in line with what we pay in property taxes :/

[Lara L]

Oh -- maybe that's what it's supposed to be. I thought it was income.

I guess that's more in line with what we pay in property taxes :/

yeah, on the 'teaser' page, it doesn't really have anything you couldn't get at the boroough commissioner's website (heck, you could get original floor plans there, if you really wanted to!)

I love how their map thinks my house (tho the address is correct) is south of Denali... about 150 miles away.

[shenudance]

Wow! Thinking of all the weird people who will use this!

[crystalllized]

Eek both are super creepy. Just when you thought you were kind of anonymous...

[Ndi-mi]

Speaking of creepy apps, have you seen this one?

Spokeo People Search | White Pages | Find People

Huh. I don't exist.

Has anyone actually bought a Spokeo sub?

[steffib]

yeah, on the 'teaser' page, it doesn't really have anything you couldn't get at the boroough commissioner's website (heck, you could get original floor plans there, if you really wanted to!)

In our county, the real estate website used to be searchable by name, but they removed that function for privacy reasons, which I feel is a good thing. I checked, and I was listed on Spokeo - I am not too happy that our county's info has been harvested and put on the web. In fact, I would not be surprised if Spokeo and other services like it are breaking laws because of copyright, privacy and commercial use limitation rules. (Not that I am a lawyer or have the time and money to take them to court.)

[*Shira*]

I checked, and I was listed on Spokeo - I am not too happy that our county's info has been harvested and put on the web. In fact, I would not be surprised if Spokeo and other services like it are breaking laws because of copyright, privacy and commercial use limitation rules.

There is a way to remove yourself from Spokeo. Off the top of my head, I forget the specific path of prompts to do it, but I have done it.

[dunyah]

There is a way to remove yourself from Spokeo. Off the top of my head, I forget the specific path of prompts to do it, but I have done it.

Spokeo | Privacy

and FAQs

http://www.spokeo.com/blog/my-content-privacy/#11

11. How do I remove my information from Spokeo’s search results?

Spokeo respects your privacy, and you can easily opt out of Spokeo’s public search if desired. Please note that since the information aggregated by Spokeo is publicly available, opting out of Spokeo does NOT remove the information from its original sources, which are hundreds of additional websites. You can remove the search results derived from performing any Name, Reverse Phone or Reverse Email searches here.

To remove your Name/Phone/Email Listing(s):

1. Locate the listing to remove (for name listings, please select the state, city, then exact profile match)
2. Copy the URL (the URL can be found on the top of your browser and should look something like “http://www.spokeo.com/search?q=Smith...9812367″)
3. Go to www.spokeo.com/privacy
4. Paste the URL
5. Provide your email address (this acts as a verification process for the confirmation to be sent to your Inbox) and Captcha Code (Image Verification Code)
6. Check you Inbox for the confirmation email, and click on the link on the bottom to complete the removal process.
7. The directory listing will become flagged and will be removed within 1 business day.

[zorba]

This won't make me popular, but ONE more time:

"Social networking sites" are great if you're 17...

All I keep hearing are more and more and more and MORE reasons to totally avoid them...

[dunyah]

This won't make me popular, but ONE more time:

"Social networking sites" are great if you're 17...

All I keep hearing are more and more and more and MORE reasons to totally avoid them...

All the information on Spokeo is from public records, not necessarily from social networking sites. Isn't Bhuz a social networking site of sorts?

Of course you are entitled to your opinion, we all have 'em!

[Lauren_]

From the article:

"It's a constant fight between our right to be 'left alone' and our need for exhibitionism. Let's see which one wins."

It constantly amazes me how much information people will share on social media sites. How easy is it to be a stalker in 2011? It IS creepy.

It's so strange to me that people on Facebook are constantly freaking out about their privacy being violated. People, YOU control what info you're putting on Facebook! Don't put info on the INTERNET if you want to keep it PRIVATE!

This won't make me popular, but ONE more time:

"Social networking sites" are great if you're 17...

All I keep hearing are more and more and more and MORE reasons to totally avoid them...

The fact that this post appears on a social networking site makes it a little ironic, Zorba.

[zorba]

The fact that this post appears on a social networking site makes it a little ironic, Zorba.

I don't consider this a "Social networking site" - although I do understand where you're coming from. To me, Bhuz is a bulletin board.

[Lauren_]

I don't consider this a "Social networking site" - although I do understand where you're coming from. To me, Bhuz is a bulletin board.

I used to think of it that way, too. And I continually resist its efforts to become a social networking site. I post to the message board, but I don't collect friends here, or blog, etc.

[Ndi-mi]

A recent article in a magazine (can't remember which, may have been Time or Washingtonian) talks about how people are actually losing touch with folks because of their online interactions. We FB and Tweet and post, rather than visiting in person, or writing letters. They also mentioned how kids are losing perspective on the difference between people they know and their "friends" - folks hundreds, even thousands, of miles away that they've never met.

Personally, I have an email newsletter that I send out via my gmail account. If I don't know you in reality (i.e. met you, ate with you, etc.), you're not on that list. And I tweet, only because I like the twitters I follow, e.g. Dave Ramsey. I like SOME Bulletin Boards, like Bhuz, or forums, like UKBusinessForums or Business Masters, or sites like geocaching.com. All these are very specific to my interests, business or hobbies. None are just "out there" or social. Be honest, how many stalkers are going to trawl Bhuz? Negligible compared to FB, I'm guessing.

For the rest, sorry everyone, I'm with Zorba. I don't like FB or LinkedIn or any of the other social networking sites.

[vanillacherry]

..... I like my privacy. To the point where most of my FB "friends" (some of them people I like but haven't physically spoken to in years) are only now finding out that I moved from one state to another, and much more info than that... Creepy is right.

[zorba]

Interestingly enough, I don't appear on either of those sites. I can't imagine why... </snark>

[Ariadne_Eleni]

HA! That one says I make $125,000 a year! Wonder where I'm keeping it...

My results were even less accurate.

Evidently it harvested my birthdate from somewhere though and I am very careful about where I put any of my information online. It is a little disturbing I will admit.

[Lavina]

Hell yeah, I know it's so f-ing creepy.. I myself was kinda victim of this. I feel so paranoid now. I couldn't believe that my ex was able to get a hold of me again after 6 long years! I checked here,where he said he found me and surprised to saw it myself.

I have a quick question, is there still such thing as privacy in this technology age? The last time I checked it was still on the dictionary. I couldn't seem to find my privacy now. It's really freaking out.

[kina]

It's so strange to me that people on Facebook are constantly freaking out about their privacy being violated. People, YOU control what info you're putting on Facebook! Don't put info on the INTERNET if you want to keep it PRIVATE!



The fact that this post appears on a social networking site makes it a little ironic, Zorba.

this.

[DarkestDesert]

Holy crap! My parents are protestants? I don't exist? When did that happen?

Seriously though, if they can't get the information right, I don't see how the site could be a threat.

[*Shira*]

Food for thought:

Social Media History Becomes a New Job Hurdle - Yahoo! Finance

[Ainsley]

Speaking of creepy apps, have you seen this one?

Spokeo People Search | White Pages | Find People

I'm relieved to discover that the only thing this one knows about me is that I'm a dude!

Finally, the secret's out.

[gothique]

Speaking of creepy apps, have you seen this one?

Spokeo People Search | White Pages | Find People

I hope no one subscribes to this!
I 'Spokeo'd' myself, and others I know.
The majority of the information was WRONG about me, and them as well!!!!

Creepy though

:(