Found my post while searching family name on Google

[JackieB]

Okay I assumed that since you have to login to Hometalkers that posts were only visible to users.

My husband was googling himself and found a post here that I had written regarding our anniversary in 2002.

Did anyone else know that you could read the posts without logging in? Or is it that you can't post unless you are registered, so reading would be in Guest mode?

Just wondering because I write personal stuff here and the only reason he found it was because we were discussing names and his first name appeared somewhere and then he last somewhere else and Google put them together and tada!

[oniongirl]

Yikes! I found mine, too. Is there anything we can do about this? I think it's a matter of security, no?

[Sydneyp]

Well, yes it is a matter of security. One's personal info shouldn't ever be used on the net....

But you all put it there. Names, dates...etc....all enough info for wackos to track you if they really wanted to.

I don't use my real name, never use a last name, never use real dates, basically never reveal everything. The persons who also post pictures of themselves and their families are either doubly brave or completely unaware of what they are really doing.

I don't think many of us would have registered with a message board we had never seen. I know I could read the boards prior to registering.

I suggest you edit all your posts to remove personal information so that next time google dances, you might become "unlisted." At least the info that leads one to the page through google no longer exists.

[RedBedHead]

I found good 'ol HT because of Google. I was searching for a recipe and Mel's Meal Planning Thread came up. That's why I don't generally post names. Especially last names.

[Csara]

There is a Privacy Statement at the bottom of HT which has pretty much always been in place:
http://www.hometalkers.com/forums/privacy.php

Security
HT has security measures in place to protect the loss, misuse and alteration of the information under our control. All demographic and contact information is kept on physically secured systems behind password protection.

HT will always do our best to protect your information stored in our database. Both by upgrading the forum to the latest version, disabling features which might cause problems and by making sure you are the only one who knows your password (it is stored encrypted in the database).

Public Information
Home Talkers makes use of forums, message boards, and/or news groups available to its members. Please remember that any information that is disclosed in these areas becomes public information and you should exercise caution when deciding to disclose your personal information.

So basically, what can be done is to do what SydneyP suggested and edit out your personal information from your posts.

[Turtleheadfred]

Well CRAP! NO I didn't know this information was available for non-members! That's why I thought you were a member!

So Csara and Jester... should we all remove everything personal about ourselves? That's a LOT of info for some people! I mean... this is how we all become friends. Let us know - that's sort of scary. :eek:

[Csara]

No, you register to become a member so that you can post and participate in the conversations. Nowhere does it say that the board is private. It is clearly stated on the forums page that the Picture Gallery and the Sex & Romance Forum are private, but other than that, you will not find it stated anywhere else. Even on the Home Page it says that "as a guest you can view most of the board, but when you become a member you can be a part of it!"

As far as sharing personal information, it shouldn't matter unless you also give your full name and address.

[Csara]

oops sorry, forgot to add that the journals should also be private. I'm going to check on that now.

and editing in to say.....YES, they are! :)

[JackieB]

Sorry to scare everyone I was just surprised, I know that you should keep private info private I think I just got too comfortable with talking about my life.

I did re-edit the post that I found and will check through my other posts.

When I first registered for my email account at home I thought that using my first name and last name would make it easier for my family and friends to keep in touch just like my work email, I realized that it is just a pain in the butt for spam, I may change it to get rid of the spammers.

[oniongirl]

Thank goodness I have never revealed my true identity on here. :cool:

[CC21]

Can we delete entire threads that we started? Like my TTC journal? I understand if it's a whole discussion thread but like my TTC journal is only 2 pages long so is it possible to delete the whole thing?

[Csara]

Originally posted by Joni
Can we delete entire threads that we started? Like my TTC journal? I understand if it's a whole discussion thread but like my TTC journal is only 2 pages long so is it possible to delete the whole thing? Sure, if you want it deleted, I can do that, but like I said the journals are private to members only. A guest or "lurker" cannot view them. The only reason you can see them from google is because you have a cookie set to HT. If you log out and then try to view it, you shouldn't be able to. Send me a PM if you want though. It's no problem.

[Jester]

The journals under the Journals Forum:
*TTC/TOC Journals*

*Pregnancy Journals*

*Mommy Journals*

Are all un-googleable. Meaning you cannot google your name and see personal info from those forums. Now if you use your last name in for example the "Pool and Spas" forum, you can access that as a guest.

The other possibility is that you are still logged into the forum, and then since you have access to that forum you can see it.

Do this: click the logout button at the top right.
then, click on the thread from Google, and you should NOT be able to access it.

You should see something like this if you are not logged into your account:
http://hometalkers.com/hometalkers-no.gif

At some point a long time ago, we secured the journal forums, but Google got a couple of threads before we blocked Google.

Guests who click on those links can't read it now regardless. They can, however, see info via the cached link.

[Csara]

Just to further clarify, the following forums are PRIVATE:

Threads Gone Bad
Steam Room
TTC/TOC Journals
Pregnancy Journals
Mommy Journals
Sex and Romance Forum (which isn't even public for some registered members)
Photo Gallery

Everything else is public.....however, I really don't think it needs to be such a cause for concern. You shouldn't be putting a full name, phone number or address online anyway. Pictures should go in your journal or the photo gallery. If you follow those simple guidelines, there shouldn't be any privacy issues.