Please Rob Me
This morning I came across an interesting site that exposes a vulnerability that some of us open ourselves up to - specifically using Twitter or other social networking tools to tell folks where you are, and by implication, where you are not (at home!).
So this site: pleaserobme.com/ tracks Twiiter feeds, looking for people who are telling the world: "Hey, I'm at the mall" - with the implied subtext of "So I'm not home...please rob me."
The site is, of course, not HOPING that people will use it to actually rob somebody. It's purpose is to shine a light on a vulnerability that we tacitly accept when telling the world of our whereabouts. Also, I think the danger isn't from some thief trolling a site like this. Much more likely is that someone who you were recently close to (friend, co-worker, lover), but now feels dissed(break up, fired, etc.) continues to follow your tweets, knows where you live, etc.
Which is not to say that the bad guys aren't creative in finding targets. A girl I went out with in high school lost her grandfather to a heart attack. The wake was published in the newspaper. The family came home from the wake to find their home had no TV, stereo, etc. The lowest of the low.
I'm not sure this changes how I live (since I typically don't put up these kinds of tweets), but it is something to think about.
Mike
Comments
tom
Yeah, I follow a guy who's always tweeting where he is...which is not at home. "I'm at this Starbucks, that cafe, etc." Just a couple of Google searches away from knowing where lives and even timing when he'll be home, based on tweets.
During ToC I'll be sure to Tweet to the MMA fighter and gun nut watching my house to have him take out the trash, neighbors want you to turn off the loud music, etc
LMAO! You'd be better off at Strauss's steeling wheels and eating B&J Ice Cream.....no, check that, Rich ain't got any good race wheels. Drat!