Posted by fi on January 23, 2002, at 9:26:50
In reply to Re: Posting of email addresses » fi, posted by Rick on January 22, 2002, at 19:06:12
Hi Rick
I dont have the technical knowhow to answer your question properly -sorry! I have been to a talk by an internet security person who demonstrated how with an email address (but maybe not the kind you mention- I dont know) you could find out more. It wasnt by contacting the ISP, and unfortunately I cant remember the precise details.
With *my* bog stanard unanonymous email, I can see that putting it in Google would give lots of identifying information about me, as my email is on the webpages I author. My surname and initial are also in my email address, so if I lived in a smaller place it would be possible to use the town listed on my work website, and use directory enquiries to get my home phone no.
I cant say that anyone would actually bother to do this, or that its possible with all types of email. Just its a risk with some.
Our names on PB seem pretty consistent, and different from each other, so I think its a reasonable assumption that ones with the same 'name' are from the same person.
There is a large element of possibility rather than experience in this discussion, of course. I'm pleased that people who've put up their email havent had problems as a result.
Fi
poster:fi
thread:2697
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20011216/msgs/2722.html