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I just received a message to my private e-mail account from Linked In asking me whether I know any of 3 individuals, including a roommate. Several weeks ago I received another message to my corporate e-mail from a rather suspicious website which referenced my supervisor, someone I didn't know, and a different roommate who no longer lived at the same address.
These are obviously not coincidences. My question is, how do websites connect me with these people? The roomies did not and do not have my e-mail addresses. I'm not even sure that Linked In has my current street address. We are not connected in any public way that I am aware of other than sharing a house, and certainly not online. This is a total mystery to me. Can anyone shed some light? Is there any way I can keep these connections from being made, or is it the result of public information over which I have no control? I am concerned to the point of being somewhat paranoid.
Richard
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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I'm not on LinkedIn, but On Facebook I think it works a variety of ways:
Based on any information you enter into your profile (city of birth, city of residence, schools, employment, hobby, friends etc) they'l start to suggest people who went to your school, live in your town, are friends of your friends, work at your place of employment etc
On Facebook if somebody names you in a post, you probably get suggestions for that person and all of their friends
The suggestions facebook has made to me seem to be related to the qualifiers I mention plus a few more I haven't figured out yet
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We are watching everything you do. Everywhere you go. Everyone you speak to. If you have done nothing wrong, you have no need to be concerned. 
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Your "Private" email acount, discounting Gov use could be a source for lot of information. Anywhere you made a purchase on the internet, and another person purchased something at same place. Any folks using your address could make a connection. A lot of states sell drivers license information. Also other entities, especially search engines, could make a connection. Cell phones are NOT secure, very easy to obtain information from users of such. GPS being used in newer cars, or portable units, the data is being collected and sold. GPS, turning it off... it can be turned back on remotely. Your property taxes and addresses are public information. I can look up address and learn who the owner is, value of the house, etc. If you've ever got sideways with "John Law", that is usually public information. Google your own name in full. Keep in mind the SEs, Search Engines and your reading of any site leaves a "fingerprint" of your use. Any grocery store discount or membership cards you own could also be sources of information. I avoid and "Cloud" computing places. The online automatic backup sites, have your whole ballgame. Even assuming they would be honest, hackers are alive and well. A very bad place is you wi-fi system setups. It does need some type of security on it. Am I security sepecialist, no, but involved deeply in computers since early 70's. Also extremely hi security clearances in military, and couple of defense companies worked at. Starting in early 90's joining the Net and using, I decided that anything placed there was "fair game" for "observers". There are so many more ways this data is assembled, can not even imagine. Does this worry me, a bit, primarily identity theft. This country we live in is a wonderful place, and blessed to be here. Technology has complicated our lives, but also added things like PG Music products, and many other things. Just think of the joy a lot of it has added to our lives. You asked! After the fact, found this. Data Sources
Last edited by seeker; 06/19/13 07:41 AM.
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The good news is (I think, hope?) this stuff is created by software 'bots, it's all automatic, it's not like some real person knows anything about you or your possible connections.
This is similar to the current flap about NSA data mining. They have billions and billions (gazillions?) of phone connections. The only thing that goes through all that are computer algo's commonly known as 'bots. If something that meets certain highly classified parameters floats up then a real person might look at it.
When you talk about average folks like us nobody is physically looking at that stuff, it's just various 'bots tied into advertising. I have a friend who is totally paranoid about this, if he happens to mention on the phone he might toke up occasionally he'll stop and say he shouldn't say that like he really thinks somebody is listening in. I try to explain by saying do you have any idea how many people it would take to just randomly listen in to average people and then somehow get to you? Please. Unless you're a legimate high value target to a specific individual or organization, no real person is listening to or reading anything.
Even identity theft isn't that big of a deal unless you're stupid enough to not check your online banking and credit cards every week or so. If you let it go for months then yeah, the first time you find out about it could be when a card is suddenly maxed out or cancelled. If you catch it quickly the bank or card company covers you for any losses.
All these Facebook or Linked In emails about possible connections are certainly annoying but nothing to really get concerned about.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Bob,
You put a good realistic perspective on this subject.
Just be aware, and review crucial items.
This internet tool we use is primarily a good thing.
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Thanks for the insight, guys. I am substantially reassured. I didn't really think anyone was paying personal attention for all the reasons you cite, but what an incredible database obviously exists from which such relationships can be extrapolated. One must live under the assumption that if you have done nothing wrong you have little to worry about. The alternative is continual paranoia. On the other hand, it would have to be assumed that if you have done something wrong, they're gonna getcha. How could they not, with all that information out there? Unless you're an international terrorist or a conservative seeking tax-exempt status or something. "A conservative is a liberal who has just been mugged. A liberal is a conservative who has just been arrested." 
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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One must live under the assumption that if you have done nothing wrong you have little to worry about.
yes, but what bothers me is the fact that the definition of WRONG is highly subjective. We're all wrong in somebody's eyes and right in somebody else's eyes. The question is: which of those two groups is positioned to judicially declare what's wrong and enforce punishment ?
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 Only the guilty have to fear.
Last edited by 90 dB; 06/20/13 09:06 AM.
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...what an incredible database obviously exists from which such relationships can be extrapolated. And this is the fear. Since none of knows what we don't know the possibility exists that that huge database becomes too tempting for some nefarious agency of the government and in an eyeblink we're all screwed. There are supposedly very strong safeguards against that but again it's all so classified that we have no way of really groking it. In my first of many previous lives I worked at NSA for three years as an analyst. Not unlike our friend Snowden. Any insights I might have now are so oudated that I'm sure the top secret stuff I was working on is now in the Smithsonian along with the WW2 German Enigma codes. Kids look at the exhibits and know that their cell phones have better encryption than those antiques did. My gut tells me with no evidence mind you that Snowden is speaking out of his butt. Intelligence 101 is all about compartmentalization and need to know. There's no way he would have access to anything outside of the specific stuff he was assigned to unless things have radically changed in the last 40 years. General Hayden spoke to that exact point on one of the Sunday shows last week so it sounds like that's still standard operational procedure. I still think you can put a lid on the paranoia but keep yourself informed and vigilant. In other words to quote Reagan, "Trust but Verify". Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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