How much personal information?

**shoiji** · 06-30-2011, 12:16 PM

I am just curious. How much personal information do you give out on a social site? Have just noticed there are times I would like to reply to a post but stop myself because I think, well, that might be a little to much information. Guess I have read and heard to many warnings about identity theft, theft in general, or need to protect yourself on the web.

Are you careful about how much information you give?

**dinah** · 06-30-2011, 12:56 PM

i have been hesitant to jump right in here due to frugal village being googlable. my other boards are more 'private' and not googlable so i feel more comfortable sharing there. i realize that nothing is safe on the internet and in recent years i have become more 'reserved' in what i post.

**oheoh's momma** · 06-30-2011, 12:59 PM

I would never post my social securtiy number or address just general info I guess

**Telephus44** · 06-30-2011, 01:32 PM

I wouldn't post my SSN or real address/phone number, but occasionally I'll use my real name. There are a few places where I don't mind people looking me up.

I'm not that paranoid about identity theft. I know it happens, but I check stuff often.

**Neeley** · 06-30-2011, 02:18 PM

The only thing I will not share is my SS#. The rest is no big deal. Friends, acquaintances, church member, co-workers, family members all know my name, address, phone number, age, etc...Some of which I do not trust at all. Plus, if someone really wants to find out things about, they can.

If someone were to steal my identity, I would catch it relatively quickly as I check my credit report and do a background check on myself on a frequent, regular basis.

**zakity** · 06-30-2011, 03:14 PM

The house rules are no real names on the net and no identifying information (hence the "near Portland" thing).

When my guys are playing games, if people ask, they tell them that they are 35 yr old males. To the question of where do you live, they answer "with my mother". **giggles** People think they are 35 yr old males who live with their mother...

**frugalfranny** · 06-30-2011, 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by shoiji

Are you careful about how much information you give?

Real careful...........on any site. Keep it pretty general.
The town where I live is about as close as it gets.

**Debbie-cat** · 06-30-2011, 03:35 PM

No SSN or address/phone number. Otherwise my life is pretty boring so I don't think anyone would want to know more.

**Michelle68** · 06-30-2011, 06:13 PM

No SS#, no address, no phone number and no full names. (I go by my middle name)

**Imarachne** · 06-30-2011, 07:03 PM

I try to be as discreet as possible but would never give SS # out !

**Mom2-3** · 06-30-2011, 07:34 PM

No names, ages, pictures, location...etc. I try to be very general and cautious online.

**Spirit Deer** · 06-30-2011, 07:36 PM

I'm fairly cautious. I don't use my legal name anywhere, even on sites like Facebook. I certainly don't give out my social, nor would I ever post my phone number, license plate numbers, etc. I would never post the amounts of my bills, my mortgage company, credit card info, etc, etc. While I do mention my specific town occasionally, if it's in a sig or under my name, it's more vague.

I don't post identifiable pictures of my house.

I don't talk about my sex life, intimate health issues, or other stuff no one needs or wants to know about.

On sites like this, which I don't trust nearly as much as other sites I'm on, I try to limit what I say about anything of a personal nature.

**KeithBC** · 07-02-2011, 12:37 AM

I try not to be paranoid about it, but I am careful. I avoid using my full name, though it's not a secret. Same with my email address. I don't ever post my phone number or house address.

I am very careful with information that is typically used in security questions by banks and such agencies. I don't post my mother's maiden name. I will give a date of birth on forums like FV, because it is helpful for people to know my age - it helps them put me in context - but I don't give my real birthday. The year is correct, but the date isn't. (It gets a little strange when I get an automated "Happy Birthday" greeting from a forum when it isn't my birthday!)

Recently, I was about to post the name of the town where I was born, because it would have been relevant in the context of a particular thread, but I stopped myself - TMI.

Basically, I refuse to let the bad guys govern my life to the point that I have to be secretive. Life is too short for that. I have to be real. On the other hand, I try to make it as hard for the bad guys as I can.

**frugalfriend** · 07-02-2011, 12:52 AM

Yes, I'm pretty careful. There have been many times I have wanted to share something with the members here that I feel like I "know" but since this is the internet after all, I hold back.