----- Original Message ----- From: "Carla H." <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2000 6:56 PM Subject: Re: [B-W] Security Concerns > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <[email protected]> > Subject: [B-W] Security Concerns > > ---SNIP---but I've seen messages lately that state "My wife's grandfather's > surname was ____" or "My mother's father's surname was ____", etc. Since > the banking, credit card, etc. industries use our mother's maiden name as > one of the methods of identifying us, is it not a bad idea to transmit this > information to entire mail lists whose archives are accessible to anyone? > Please consider simply stating that you are researching surname xyz without > indicating what relationship that person is to you. > ---SNIP---> > ==================================== > Dear Curt and Baden-Wuerttemberg List Friends, > > Curt has a very intelligent idea. It is far too easy for someone to violate > your privacy and possibly your financial integrity by appropriating personal > information from genealogical sources, especially from the Internet. Don't > set yourself up for it. > > In addition to Curt's suggestion above, I recommend that you be extremely > careful when sharing GEDCOM files or other compilations of your family tree > information. Set your genealogy software program to delete the names and > information of LIVING persons from the published tree, and also be wary > about including your mother's maiden surname, whether she's living or not. > If you use a program that allows the recording of Social Security numbers, > make sure you do not include that data in material that you publish. > > In the context of Internet genealogy, it's simply not necessary to specify > your *exact* relationship to anyone (especially by identifying your parents, > spouse, or children) in order to find your roots or relatives. Most people > will assume you are referring to an ancestor or family member if you are > making your interest known in a genealogy forum. When publishing > information, use terms like, "my ancestor," or "my relative" and give the > name and the place of origin, if known. This preserves your basic security > and still permits another party who has a mutual interest to respond. You > can always share your precise relationship details with someone later, at > your discretion, when you have established their trustworthiness. > > Thanks to Curt, and I apologize if we've strayed too far from being > on-topic. :-) > > Warmest regards, > Carla HELLER > Los Angeles > > > > > > > > > ==== BADEN-WURTTEMBERG Mailing List ==== > Visit the Baden-Wuerttemberg Mailing List Website: > http://members.xoom.com/BW_List/bw.htm >