Personal Security

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Random thought of the moment:
I’ve recently been thinking a lot about personal information stored online. The more information people post online, whether we believe it’s hidden from the world or not, the more plausible it becomes for someone to social engineer data about you. For example, when I signed up for a Picasa account it informed me my “Google Profile” was incomplete. When I went to update it there were questions asking for “where did you grow up”, “Where did you go to school”, “Mothers maiden name” (okay maybe not that far, but you get where I’m going with it). With that information, tied with a little searching on the Internet for other relations, it wouldn’t take too long to get at something grander.

I know I’m on the somewhat paranoid side when it comes to personal security; however, with all the information people, myself included, post to the Internet, I begin to wonder not if, but when, that information may be used for ill intent. With so many online identities how does one keep track of all the information posted over the years? Think about it, online forums, social networking sites, mailing lists, blogs, email, etc. they all require a certain amount of information from you to get an account and post information.

There’s always something watching the data (whether you have it marked personal, blocked, or specific viewing). Data is inherently compromised the moment you connect it to the Internet, or allow physical access to your machine. The only thing limiting a data breach is time. While you might think an item posted is innocuous to others, what is its worth to you? What is its worth if it got out of your control? Remember, all information is valuable to varying degree’s, it’s what’s done with the data that can make it priceless.

Anyway, it was just a somewhat random thought that’s been mulling in my head for a while. The more “connected” we become as a society, the more exposed our personal space becomes. It’s funny as technology and connectivity advance I now wonder if it will become our eventual downfall as a society. Meh, the world’s going to “end” in 2012 anyway, right?

Surprise Visit and a Disney Halloween

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Well, I’ve finally got some time this weekend to go over all the pictures and post them online.

To start the Halloween weekend Don and I had to go to Burbank airport to pickup “one of my Dad’s cousins”. We weren’t too pleased with this (as the original plan was our Dad was going to go down, and changed plans Monday); however, it wasn’t anything to really get upset at. When arriving at Burbank we always pull into the short term lot (it’s just so much easier) and walk to baggage claim to meet whomever we’re picking up. When we got to baggage claim it was basically empty, so we decide to head back outside to see if we missed our Dad’s cousin. Now, we’re looking for a middle-aged guy and who pops around the damn corner but a hooded Katrine practically giving me a fraking heart attack. After a few select expletives (both to Katrine and on the phone to our parents) we headed back to the truck to head home.

Saturday we had a BBQ (just some simple burgers, chicken, ribs and veggies) at our Mom’s and pretty much just chilled most of the day until we left for our hotel later that night (so we could hit Disneyland first thing in the morning without having to wake up early and drive down). Sunday was just as awesome as Saturday, fun and relaxing. Anyway, I’ll let the pictures do the rest of the talking for now.

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