Concern about Privacy on Internet

[375Ranger]

Here's one for ya, I punched my name into search tonight on the internet and ran across a site that finds people. Intelius had my name, where I live, my wifes name , and for a small fee will tell you ANYTHING a goblin would want to know about my family and me! How do they have access to LEO info? I'm pissed off that there are no privacy rules for us. What do I do?

[SmokinMr2]

With Intelius? Don't do anything. They want $$ to look up very public information...well...at least to give it to you.

[E Pluribus Unum]

Here's one for ya, I punched my name into search tonight on the internet and ran across a site that finds people. Intelius had my name, where I live, my wifes name , and for a small fee will tell you ANYTHING a goblin would want to know about my family and me! How do they have access to LEO info? I'm pissed off that there are no privacy rules for us. What do I do?

Most of the time you voluntarily give this information out. Many times your address and phone number comes from a publicly listed phone number. If your number is in the book, its online too. Your court records, birth records, liens, lawsuits, property purchases, et cetera are ALL public information. This information has been available for many many years by going to the hall of records at your county seat. The only difference is with the advent of the Internet, there are people that will obtain this public information for you.


Want to stop it?? Don't buy property, and get a PO box to send all your mail to.

[9mmepiphany]

Want to stop it?? Don't buy property, and get a PO box to send all your mail to.

also don't apply for credit or sign up utilities...it's not hard to drop off the grid, just inconvenient. nothing the services offer is anything you couldn't find elsewhere...it's all public info.

[oddjob]

When I first started as a LEO I was concerned about people knowing where I live. Then with all the data bases mentioned already and others & the internet I gave up. I remember

I'm retired now, but the best thing to do is stay friendly with the neighbors. They will watch your back (house).

[375Ranger]

That's what I thought, it took me 2 years to get my name unlisted in the local phone book. I am fortunate to live in a very rural, somewhat isolated community with great neighbors [some ex PD and all armed]. I appreciate all the replies.

[lorax3]

Just goggling someone will tell you loads of information.

I go by Lorax3 as just about every website I visit, a simple search of that alone (not even my actual name) will give you details about people.

Going to be harder and harder to keep things private as time goes on.

[Samuelx]

Some of those search sites have Opt Out procedures...

[ojisan]

And a bunch of those sites have bad info.
I checked myself out, according to them:
I live with my father and his 3rd wife (both have passed on and never lived here).
My house is worth over $1,000,000 (I was very happy to hear that, I can retire now!)
I had only one child (I have two sons).
I am an industry professional (sounds nice, very generic, aren't we all IPs within our respective fields?)

The real irritation is that even if you don't use the internet, you still have to check it out these days to see what is being said about you.

[alex00]

I'm more worried about places like the DMV where the confidential information is listed with what agency you work for. There's always stories floating around about some motorcycle or street gang infiltrating DMV using their girlfriends/wives to get addresses for LEOs. But in 12 years I've never been targeted, that I am aware of. I can't remember anyone in my agency who's information was used to target them off duty for anything related to work. My guess is that statistically we are more likely to be victims of random identity theft, burglaries, etc. than a targeted attack based on our jobs.

[oddjob]

There has been a few DMV folks that were arrested giving out unauthorized info. Its been mostly on rival OC or gang members and not LEO personnel. I have no doubt some info has been given out on LEO folks though.