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Security questions for all -- Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn

By
Real Estate Agent with StepStone Realty, LLC

While reading Debbie Gartner's blog this morning http://activerain.com/blogsview/2616492/some-advice-on-receiving-and-sending-linkedin-invitations some thoughts came into my head.  She made some excellent points but there are security issues with all the social networking sites.

LinkedIn and Twitter don't bother me as much but Debbie has a good point as the email does lead to some spam.  I have gotten "spam" from AR also.

 One of my friends told me to remove my maiden name from my Facebook page. Her son had told her to do so as many times security questions are "Mother's maiden name". With all the links, etc on FB it is easy to arrive at that answer. Not only that but when you have many "friends" on FB that you don't really look but are only linked due to a common thread such as realtor, what do you really know about that person? Are they really a Realtor or posing as one to become your "friend" on a social media site?  So even if you are not public on FB, your "friends" can see your information.  What do you know about those "friends"?

Well, we are in the midst of an oil boom here and we share our office building with company that buys oil leases. In that process they have to do title searches on land that go back over a 100 years. In talking to one of the employees, she told me it was very complicated and they have to talk or research numerous family members, title transfers, etc. One thing they use to trace family members is Ancestry.com. Made me think: what would keep a thief from joining Ancestry.com to do name searches for their nefarious purposes? Gives you the whole family tree with birth dates and dates of death also.

Scary how much personal info is already on the web. Call me paranoid but I don't "friend" someone I don't know already and I keep my personal info to a minimum on the web.

 

Sorry, Debbie,  I don't know how to do the link back

Posted by

Faye Y.Taylor

StepStone Realty, LLC

210 216-7722

Email Faye

https://www.FloresvilleRealEstateAgent.com

 Floresville Real Estate Agent:  homes for sale Floresville

South Texas Homes for Sale =Bexar County, Wilson County,  Guadalupe County =San Antonio, Floresville, La Vernia, Adkins, Stockdale, Seguin, Marion, Poth, Schertz, Cibolo and Pleasanton 

 

 

      Floresville Tx Wilson County Courthouse         Floresville Tx Veterans Memorial

          Wilson County TX Courthouse                             Floresville Tx Veterans Memorial                

 

 

Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Thank you for the advice about removing mother's maiden name from facebook. I will share it with others.

Nov 23, 2011 02:36 AM
Ralph Janisch ABR CRS Broker
Janisch & Co. - Conroe, TX
Selling Northwest Houston to good people like you!

While it's good to be cautious these days I think it makes just as much sense to trust your "gut".  The gut rarely lies or leads you astray.  Too much caution can lead you to miss some wonderful opportunites in life for friendship and for business.

Nov 23, 2011 02:41 AM
Greg Gillespie
GumTree Realty / Genesis Realty Services,Inc - Tupelo, MS
CRS / Broker Owner

I think we as real estate agents put our name and number out to the public, and we have a much higher chance of identity theft, fraud, etc.  I know most agents have their cell phone number, home phone number, office direct number, multiple email addresses that we can be reached at.  Not to mention our multiple websites, with pictures, bio's, and the like.  Facebook...where do I start..I see some female agents try and leave off their last name, and only use their last initial when posting to different advertising.  However, one or two clicks later, you will come to their profile and get all the information one would need.

The only answer is a fraud monitering service...or do something else for a living.

Nov 23, 2011 02:41 AM
Rick Irving
My Texas Home Real Estate - Fort Worth, TX
Rick Irving Knows Real Estate

It is amazing how much personal information there is out there for the world to see on the World Wide Web. You can't be too careful. It would be nice to have some kind of computer program that would remove all your personal information from the Internet. We much just be as careful as we can. I think the Internet is here to stay!

 

Nov 23, 2011 02:47 AM
Faye Y. Taylor
StepStone Realty, LLC - Floresville, TX
Country Living with City Convenience -Wilson Co TX

Gita,  I did remove mine but for someone that doesn't want to I would say never use it as a security question.

  I use my grandmothers first name a lot since it was weird but that info is on ancestry.com so I may need to change that security question.  My bank has these pre programed security question & one is the middle name of your youngest child.  Ok that info is  on ancestry.com also.

Jeanne & Ralph,  I have been led astray by my gut on numerous occassions so I don't really rely on it all the time.   Or maybe I should say I am trusting and have been led astray by lies.

Greg,  We are lifelock subscribers but that is the one thing that does somewhat concern me about being an agent is how much of our info is for public consumption.   It almost has to be to be successful in this business.  But I do have personal email addresses, etc.  When I first started Real Estate I got a cell phone for only RE & kept my personal cell phone number.  Got tired of carrying 2 cell phones and decided I was in this business permanently so gave the personal one to the youngest daughter.   Now some of the family get really confused & leave her messages for me that she has to relay.

 

Ok, My Texas Home,  what is your REAL name?

 

 

 

 

 

Nov 23, 2011 03:28 AM
Amy Robinson
London Pierce Real Estate - Scottsdale, AZ
Realtor, Scottsdale Arizona Homes For Sale

Faye,  We can never be to careful.  So many people have become victims because of these types of sites. It is great to spread the word and bring awareness.  Thanks for visiting my site today. Have an incredible holiday weekend. 

Nov 23, 2011 10:20 AM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

Hope you have lots of fun and food with family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Nov 24, 2011 05:20 AM
Faye Y. Taylor
StepStone Realty, LLC - Floresville, TX
Country Living with City Convenience -Wilson Co TX

Amy & Russell,

Hope you had a great day.

Nov 24, 2011 11:28 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Santa Claus in Colonial Williamsburg Copy of IMG_8710

Photograph by Roy Kelley.  Canon PowerShot G11 camera.

Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs

Dec 21, 2011 08:10 AM