NeuroTalk and Bing and privacy
 

Strolling through Bing yesterday to see how it compares with Google, I came across an excerpt from one of the threads in Neurotalk. It listed the names of the thread's authors and the health condition. This seems a rather flagrant invasion of privacy, and I'm surprised that NeuroTalk doesn't have a filter in place to prevent this.

Jon

I have never seen this. Specifically where was this, so we can look and perhaps allay your concerns.


Charlie

could this have been the Neurology Now Magazine article that some NeuroTalk members voluntarily were interviewed for some years back? I see it indexed on Bing.

Hi Jon,

When you sign your full name to a post, there's no way we can "filter" such a thing out (since we never ask for your full name upon registration). So although I understand your angst and upset, I think your expectation that we can take care of this automatically in some manner is not possible for us.

Having said that, though, we are happy to go back and edit posts -- assuming we're not talking about hundreds of posts -- where you've signed your full name to the post and remove that piece of information. This will eventually be re-indexed by search engines, removing that information from their database. You just need to PM me with the links to the posts where this information appears, and I will edit out your name from the posts.

I always encourage people to understand their privacy choices online, especially when it comes to their own personal health information. You are ultimately responsible for that information and controlling how and when you release it. We've never suggested these forums aren't indexed by search engines (as are most forums online).

DocJohn

Thanks for the clarification. In the future I'll leave my last name at home with the cat. It didn't seem to matter within the inclusive kitchen setting of this forum, but at least for a while longer I'm keeping up my cloaking shields to the outside world. Saves me from having to be asked, "and now tell me, how are you doing?" Jon

Another heads up is use of Facebook and twitter. These are often used as an investigative means to retrive personal information. even if the pages are private, often enough information is linked to friends, or hobbies to trace activities.

If you were in a car crash it is not to bright to put on face book you got anther car and plan to race it that weekend....
But it happens,

I "tracked" somebody once, mostly using Facebook and MySpace to start. Found out where he worked, his kids' names, his DOGS' names, when he was going on vacation, WHERE he was going on vacation, physical address, phone number, birthday, what he sold on ebay....

If a fat old lady with a minimal knowledge of computers can do it...

I discovered this a while back when I searched Google - up popped a thread I commented on on a different site. It had my user name and what I typed. I never use my full name, DH or DD's name, or any other important information that may give too much information about me. I even googled my user name and up popped lots of threads that I commented on.

Google & threads.. Just my thoughts
 

I found the same thing with Google. Doing some research on RSD I put in search request and various threads that I had previously posted came up during the search. I am now very careful what I post because I am a WC injury and I don't want them to misinterprete anything I say. You never know it they are online looking at me!

I thought it would be more secure than this! I guess nothing you do on the internet is truely secure and private. Why bother to have passwords and logins. It appears the whole world can tap into everything.

AJ

this is a PUBLIC forum with regards to posts, and has never represented itself as anything else.

However, member profiles are private ie the search engine "bots" and non members cannot view them.

you have log in and password so that only you can control what is in your profile and in your posts.