Identity theft in the blogosphere
Filed Under (Media, Online) by Nic on 29-05-2008
Tagged Under : Blogging, comments, identity theft, robert scoble
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Comments are an integral part of blogs and the entire “web 2.0″ “movement” that is taking place. Yet I truly feel that the commenting system is flawed and leaves massive holes open for anyone wanting to abuse anyone else’s reputation online.
Think about it for a second. Many great bloggers tell beginners that it’s imperative to talk to other bloggers by commenting on their posts. This is how I started to make a name for myself and this is how many other bloggers have done so too.
But what if someone started commenting on blogs using your details. It’s not hard. You simply enter the required fields with someone else’s details.
Name - Robert Scoble
Email - rscoble@fastcompany.com
URL - http://scobleizer.com/
Done.
Now it looks like “>Robert Scoble himself has visited this blog and left a comment. Have a look below…he actually has…
You can even verify this with a bit of research. He has a valid email, posted on his blog, rscoble@fastcompany.com. The URL is correct and that is his name. So tell me, how do you prove that Scoble hasn’t posted on my blog? You can’t. There is actually no realy way (unless you contact that person directly) to determine the newsmakers from the fakers when it comes to comments.
I think that if someone really wanted to they could destroy an unwitting person’s reputation online. Especially someone in the “limelight”.
Watch out. It could be happening to you.
I have a feeling that I will be blogging more about this particular topic in the very near future.
Great article. I’ve had problems in the past with people trying to do precisely the same thing. There really is nothing that you can do about this…
This is a very important issue and yeah there isn’t much if anything one can do in that instance.
I’d like to bring attention to a different kind of ID theft, where scoundrels can open credit accounts under your name using fake ID’s. The good news is that if you monitor your credit report, you will see any new accounts or enquiries made and raise the alarms to minimise impact.
I will write about this and more on http://liberatingconcepts.co.za
BTW thanx for stopping by…
Why would someone even bother? I doubt anyone takes comments on blogs seriously enough to allow this kind of damage to occur. The internet is full of anonymous cowards such as myself who are all to eager to bash any target. This is really not dissimilar to your need to write sensationalist articles on any topic
Are you aware of how trivial it is to “steal” someones email address?
Let me give you a clue
telnet 25
helo server {no helo is not a type}
mail from: rscoble@fastcompany.com
rcpt to: someplace@place.com
data
Hello, this is really me
.
that may have been too “technical” for you. Let me use your method.
In your mail client, go to account settings.
Use these settings
Name - Robert Scoble
Email - rscoble@fastcompany.com
Wow I just realised I have some useless piece of information, maybe I should blog about it?
I feel dirty responding to this but I came upon your blog accidentally and felt like throwing up. Posting a facebook interface error and scaring the world with your “hi tech” identify theft techniques. You even gave us an in depth step by step guide on how to do it. Woot - Hack the planet!!!
Go shit.
Hahahahaha Blah. You’re awesome. Please come back.
I didn’t say that this was a method to hack anything, I didn’t say that this was “high tech”, in fact, you clearly have issues here (I’m thinking small man syndrome of some sorts).
I’m also not sure if you noticed but the url of this blog is nicharalambous.com…so if you don’t like it sod off.
Furthermore - I don’t want “a clue”, especially not from you.
How about a cookie?
Dude, I think I know who Blah is… and I think I also know exactly what you are talking about here in this post.
Sigh. Good times.
…and yes, it is 2.20am on a Saturday night (Sunday morning?) and I’m reading your blog. I’m lame - I know.
Wah! I know where this is happening on the interweb!