Ever google an old username that you used to use?

[octothorpe]

I just did and I'm disgusted in what an ass I used to be. Stuff I said over 9 years ago (somethings go back 13 years) are forever on the internet. At least it's difficult to connect the dots back to the real me.

[olddots]

1. I have such a dopey one that it comes up with zillions of products but never anything i posted.

Ever google your real name ? that can be scary

[octothorpe]

2. I always google my real name to see what comes up

Unless I start adding certain keywords to it, it usually comes up clean. I live in Texas though and someone could go to publicdata.com and pull up a lot of information (address, license numbers, voter info, etc) by just knowing my full name and round about birth date.

[ConcernedCanuk]

3. "it's difficult to connect the dots back to the real me"

.
.
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but not impossible . . .

for instance, with no designs of any sort, I book-marked a thread in a forum.

When I checked back long time after, I was looking at the thread I wanted to,

but the username was different!

think membership #

membership # does not change when you change your username.

Only way to prevent that is to delete yourself, quit the forum,

Then start back as a newbie with different information.

Most sites would catch that now just by your IP addy,

So I wouldn't recommend it.

besides, we can't hide on the Internets,

any dedicated searcher can find whatever they want.

We know this.

CC

[octothorpe]

6. Connecting an IP to a real person isn't always easy....

Like if my IP was visible to the public on this post (as opposed to just admins), most people wouldn't be able to connect it to me. Law enforcement could easily do it if they had reason to. Some employees at my ISP could do it too. In fact, I used to work for my ISP as a network technician, and I had ridiculous amount of access to information. Most people don't have that access though.


Funny you mention that, I actually used to go by the name regretmyusername/zevonfan here on DU, but I nuked(stopped using) the account because I found it could be linked to me. I don't really care now, which is why I'm mentioning it...

[olddots]

4. the internet never forgets

I kind of grasp the concept but wow that's alotta data .

[In_The_Wind]

5. I was Freebird1 once upon a time