Posting photos on the web and safety concerns

[ElvisandTracey]

I don't know if anyone else has considered this, but:

 

A lot of members post photos of their cruises with their kids in them-I was just in the Cruise Fashion thread, and a lady posted many beautiful photos of her family (2 kids) on their recent cruise.

 

I have 2 sons, and I don't think I would post photos of them, with names and all, where just anyone can see them. Like it or not their are lots of wierdos and perverts out there who may take advantage of you innocently posting family cruise photos.

 

I don't know if anyone watched CSI last week, but the whole episode is about a woman who becomes obsessed with a young boy thru his photos on the internet (she is so ill she actually comes to believes he is her son, and photo-shops her face in with the boy, so they look like thay have family pictures together). All this from photos she simply downloaded from the internet.

 

Now I know that's extreme, and only a fictional TV show, but isn't it possible that posting photos, particularly of your young kids, could lead to trouble?

 

I was just wondering if anyone else has considered this, or worse, has any experience with such an incident. I love taking photos on my cruises, but I am not sure if I want to post them. It's so sad that we have to worry about such things.

[johnql]

I would say that as long as you don't identify yourself fully (first and last names) and don't give out your specific address, you're probably fine.

[superjerryw]

I would say that as long as you don't identify yourself fully (first and last names) and don't give out your specific address, you're probably fine.

 

Sorry, but I do not agree. Posting any pictures of yourself or your family is risky. Using today's modern photo editing software it would be very easy to take your picture and extract your face and place it in another photograph of a dubious nature and publish it on the Internet. Anonimity is the key word for the Internet. Never divulge more information about yourself than is necessary.

[johnql]

Sorry, but I do not agree. Posting any pictures of yourself or your family is risky. Using today's modern photo editing software it would be very easy to take your picture and extract your face and place it in another photograph of a dubious nature and publish it on the Internet. Anonimity is the key word for the Internet. Never divulge more information about yourself than is necessary.

You're absolutely right about that possibly happening. However, how likely is that to happen to a complete stranger? Posting faked photos is usually something done maliciously by someone you know who is out to get you. Typically, a spurned lover or a stalker of some sort. (I'm not including faked photos of celebrities, which is a whole different category.) Malicious behavior against a stranger (other than identity theft, which is not what we've talking about here) doesn't seem to make much sense. I realize that doesn't mean it can't happen, but I think it's far less likely.

[ElvisandTracey]

I just worry mainly about photos of kids-thre are so many bad people (pedophiles)sp? who use the internet as their primary source of information gathering-I would never want people like that to have even a photo of my sons, names or not.

[cruzincurt]

Remember when we used to go over to the brother-in-laws and they dragged out the slide or movie projector to show their vacation? Nothing more boring than someone else's vacation photos, IMHO.

 

For safety, privacy, and possibly to prevent the wrong things happening, I would not be posting my or my family's photos anywhere in a public forum on the internet.

[ksoze]

I would say that as long as you don't identify yourself fully (first and last names) and don't give out your specific address, you're probably fine.

 

Incorrect.

 

Just from a post here, it would be easy for someone inclined to find out who you are, where you live and all the data necessary to find you. You would be shocked at what can be gleaned from the net. The internet is a wild place and one must protect themselves at all times (unfortunately).

[johnql]

Incorrect.

 

Just from a post here, it would be easy for someone inclined to find out who you are, where you live and all the data necessary to find you. You would be shocked at what can be gleaned from the net. The internet is a wild place and one must protect themselves at all times (unfortunately).

If that's the case, why do we all keep posting here? Seriously, I'm not saying there is NO risk; I just think it's minimal.

[ksoze]

If that's the case, why do we all keep posting here? Seriously, I'm not saying there is NO risk; I just think it's minimal.

 

The issue was more about posting kids pictures and family information.

 

Posting here is fine, just be aware. Not trying to be a kill joy, just think that you need to be on guard when giving out data to strangers (and you do even though you may not realize it).

[PhoenixCruiser]

What amazes me is the folks here that include their names, their childrens names, ages, location, photos or even links to their photos in their signatures. Very scary :eek:

 

###

[johnql]

ksoze, basically I agree with you. But I think there's a spectrum of risks associated with internet use. Posting a picture with first names and no address info, to me, falls on the less dangerous end of the scale. If someone wants to exploit people on the internet, there are far easier ways to do so (e.g., chat rooms, Usenet, phishing scams, trojans, email spam, etc.).

[cmason]

I post many photos on the web, thru webshots and flickr. Most of these photos are of places I have been, few include family members at all, and even rarer still are these identified. More importantly, I do not put personal information on these sites, so even if you saw a person, you could not tie it back to me, the real person, or the them, the real person (where we live, who we are, etc).

 

On the other hand I do have personal photos and other pics on the web. These are password protected, and only family is invited and provided the password. this works very well,and am happy with it (i use smugmug.com)

[ElvisandTracey]

The amount of personal information that kids themselves are posting these days is frightening, and most of their parents probably have no idea they are doing it. I work at a law firm and one of our custody cases right now involves a dad who doesn't like the fact that his child is on MySpace, a site full of kids pictures and personal info.

 

A lot of these kids are like 12 or 13, but lie and say they are 18 or 19, and are talking on line to men in their 20's and 30's-it's dangerous. I have been researching MySpace for this case, and the site is full of very suggestive photos and very free speech. The girl whose boyfriend supposedly killed her parents a few weeks ago, they supposedly linked up thru MySpace. It's scary.

[cruznsugs]

I post many photos on the web, thru webshots and flickr. Most of these photos are of places I have been, few include family members at all, and even rarer still are these identified. More importantly, I do not put personal information on these sites, so even if you saw a person, you could not tie it back to me, the real person, or the them, the real person (where we live, who we are, etc).

 

On the other hand I do have personal photos and other pics on the web. These are password protected, and only family is invited and provided the password. this works very well,and am happy with it (i use smugmug.com)

 

The one thing I didn't do on this message board is put my location. It is on most peoples thread posts. I can see cmason that your from North Carolina. And also alot of people use their name as their cruise critic name which then ties a name to a place. Check the phone book or internet and whamo they know where you live. It's just smart to leave the personal stuff off anything publically posted on the internet.

[ksoze]

Many internet users do not realize the information trail they leave. From a single picture on the internet, much can be gleaned, sometimes just from the digital information within the picture. One can still get the many benefits out of a board such as this without posting location and family information.

 

Truth is, the person on the other end of the wire may not be whom you think it is. With many of the posters here, it would not be much of a challenge to have their home phone, address and map within minutes. That is scary!

[superjerryw]

Originally Posted by superjerryw

Sorry, but I do not agree. Posting any pictures of yourself or your family is risky. Using today's modern photo editing software it would be very easy to take your picture and extract your face and place it in another photograph of a dubious nature and publish it on the Internet. Anonimity is the key word for the Internet. Never divulge more information about yourself than is necessary.

 

You're absolutely right about that possibly happening. However, how likely is that to happen to a complete stranger? Posting faked photos is usually something done maliciously by someone you know who is out to get you. Typically, a spurned lover or a stalker of some sort. (I'm not including faked photos of celebrities, which is a whole different category.) Malicious behavior against a stranger (other than identity theft, which is not what we've talking about here) doesn't seem to make much sense. I realize that doesn't mean it can't happen, but I think it's far less likely.

 

Regardless of the level of likelihood, why take a chance. You have a lot of posts so you have plenty of experience on these boards. How many times have you seen people offer differing opinions on a topic only to have the discussion turn in to name calling, insults, etc. I can easily see one party trying to exact revenge on the other if an easy opportunity presented itself. There are just too many kooks on the Internet to take any chances.

[ElvisandTracey]

I totally agree that photos are risky-you guys should really go to the "cruise fashion" area and look at the thread about "cruise fashions for your viewing pleasure"-I can't believe this lady posts so many photos of her young son and daughter-with names. I am wondering should I post in that thread that she may want to be careful-maybe she is unaware of the risks??:confused:

[flagger]

We never use our daughter's real name on line. Our personal website is password protected. I never use my full legal name on any website. However I know that anything I post can be found, but we take what precautions we can. Over the summer there was a website for diaper wearing fetishists. They were going to all sorts of websites and copying images of even the smallest children in diapers for use in their galleries.

[ElvisandTracey]

We never use our daughter's real name on line. Our personal website is password protected. I never use my full legal name on any website. However I know that anything I post can be found, but we take what precautions we can. Over the summer there was a website for diaper wearing fetishists. They were going to all sorts of websites and copying images of even the smallest children in diapers for use in their galleries.

 

Lovely-they must have watched that CSI episode last year with the diaper guy-gross!!!! I really may post something on that lady's thread telling her to be careful with her kids' photos.

[johnql]

Originally Posted by superjerryw

Regardless of the level of likelihood, why take a chance. You have a lot of posts so you have plenty of experience on these boards. How many times have you seen people offer differing opinions on a topic only to have the discussion turn in to name calling, insults, etc. I can easily see one party trying to exact revenge on the other if an easy opportunity presented itself. There are just too many kooks on the Internet to take any chances.

Very true. But as with anything else in life, you have to weigh the risk versus the benefit (if any). And you're certainly right about wanting to avoid incurring the wrath of some whacko. That's why I try my best to stay out of the overly heated discussions, especially when they can't be resolved anyway. I express my opinion and try my best never to get personal.

 

As for taking a chance, we all do that every day. It's just that the risks involved vary greatly, with most risks being minimal. Out of curiosity, has anybody reading this thread actually read about or heard about an incident involving someone exploiting someone else based solely on a photo that was posted on a site such as Webshots? I know I haven't. On the other hand, I've heard of numerous cases of criminal activity that came about from naive people revealing too much information in a chat room, for instance. The post by ElvisandTracey concerning MySpace is a perfect example of a high-risk activity that many people (especially kids) take part in. I'd be far more concerned with that type of security risk.

[mafig]

Some of it is ego too, I think. Although few of us post our real names, we do give out information. I don't think pictures of a cute child is necessarily bad, and of course you'd not want to give out her full name; however, some would think nothing of showing a picture of their beautiful new champion dog, Ch. Such and Such of So and So. You might as well put your name and address on the web.

[eddeb]

Hello Everyone, :)

 

We just got back from the Mariner Eastern

 

10/23 and had a fabulous time!

 

Captain Johnny Was too cool! :)

 

Our Seas Were Perfect just as everything else...

 

We have our Vacation pics up on Webshots:

 

Click On: >>

 

http://community.webshots.com/myphotos

 

We sent them to our staff, stewards, Crew,

 

and piano guy, casino guys etc.

 

We think it is a great way to share your

 

vacation with others.

 

We have over 15,000 hits in several weeks.

 

I think it is statistically more dangerous walking

 

out of a Kmart parking lot at night.

 

We watch our children like hawks, have Four

 

Very Large German Shepards, and a 12 gauge.

 

Can you say Bang bang? ( a great Cher song)

 

Hope you like our pics, we have two more albums

 

to upload when we get the time.

 

May your Seas Be Flat,

And Your Tummies be fat!

 

Have a Great Cruise!

 

The Moore Gang

Tampa :)

[jennew]

I admit that I have given this a thought before. My 6 year old will be with us on our next cruise and I purposely left his name out of the "roll call". I would also NEVER give out our cabin number for that very reason.

 

Once I posted a link to some previous cruise photos and then felt a little "check" in my gut because I worried that someone might see my 6 year old, realize he would be with us on our next cruise....and then lots of horrible thoughts filled my head.

 

I don't have a problem with Cruise Arizona's post, but you do pose some interesting thoughts.....

[eddeb]

Hello again,

 

I put the wrong address up for you to click

 

to see Our Mariner Vacation:

 

The right address is: >>

 

http://community.webshots.com/user/eddeb2005

 

May your Seas be flat,

And your Tummies be Fat!

 

The Moore Gang

 

Tampa Bay!~

 

Go BUCS!!! :)

[hbor]

Sorry, but I do not agree. Posting any pictures of yourself or your family is risky. Using today's modern photo editing software it would be very easy to take your picture and extract your face and place it in another photograph of a dubious nature and publish it on the Internet. Anonimity is the key word for the Internet. Never divulge more information about yourself than is necessary.

 

 

Why limit your concern to just pictures you post on the internet. What about all of the other people on the cruise with cameras. What if you are in the background of their picture that they post on the internet. That is why whenever I am out in public with the kids, I make them wear crazy masks, like Michael Jackson's kids.