Archive for the ‘Internet Abuse’ Category
Facebook Abuse: Safety Tips
Facebook is a hugely popular social networking site. Unfortunately, it’s also a large target for Spammers, thieves, identity theft, criminals, abusers, and numerous other “bad guys”. It’s also a very enticing service since it permits you to find friends, relatives, and even your old enemies. Unfortunately, the default Privacy setting leave a lot to be desired. Think I’m joking? Read this:
Judge Kicks Notorious Spammer off Facebook. Sanford Wallace and his low life friends. Spam and phishing schemes.
University addresses Facebook abuse
Canadian official takes issue with Facebook privacy
Twitter Permits Blatant Abuse: Anonymous Tweeting Is Encouraged
Their are a number of third party services which permit stalkers, criminals, abusers, and bad players to Tweet Anonymously. While most of them state that they log IPs and tell the user not to do nasty things, I’m not impressed.
You go to these sites and Tweet to whoever you wish. When the other party reads the Tweet you sent anonymously, it says it’s anonymous and list the name of the services. Sorry…I’m not going to post the names or links since that will only make it easy for the bad guys to use them.
This is an open invitation for tons of abuse. What really upsets me is that Twitter does nothing about these services. Some of whom have been around for over a year. What can I conclude from this:
Twitter just wants traffic, even if it’s garbage and places their members at risk. Traffic equals money somewhere down the road. This is morally and ethically deplorable, short sited, ill conceived, and will eventually lead to legal actions against Twitter.
Iv’e listened to one of the founders of Twitter named Biz Stone, tell the world that he plans to monetize the service and actually make money. Bull pucky I say! What kind of Corporation would want to pay money to a service which encourages abuse. NOT!
Lyrics and Tab Sites: Your Next! Spend Some Time in Jail!
Finally, The Music Publishers’ Association (MPA), which represents US sheet music companies, will launch its first campaign against such sites in 2006. What took you so long! The Internet is jam packed with these illegal sites, numerous enablers/gateways to same, and affiliate programs which encourage this deplorable action. One site has already been shut down. Read the gory details…
Santa Claus Has A Gun: Year End Abuse Warnings
Abuse on the Internet and in the brick-and-mortar world always increases during the holidays. Although we have previously covered Spam, charity fraud, Phishing, Identity Theft, and other slimy procedures, we feel obligated to cover some of these issues again and include a few additional tips.
Cancel your AOL account: New York AG Eliot Spitzer slams AOL for slimy practices.
AOL agreed to pay $1.25 million to the state of New York in penalties and costs. They also agreed to clean up their act and stop using low life practices and not honoring customers request to cancel their AOL account. The lessons and techniques which AOL used can guide all of us when we deploy a “cancel” with any third party.