Firesheep Hack

I was hacked.
I was seriously hacked!

It started on Facebook. I thought it was SPAM. I reported it and deleted it.
It was promotional material for Starbuck's.
I noticed that it happened whenever I drove through a specific Starbuck's location in Kingston, NY. Then I remembered that I had gone into that location one day with my computer and logged on using their "public" network. My computer warned me that it may not be "secure," but it seemed like a nervous parent warning teenage me not to stay out late.
 I logged on...

Now that I am a parent, I should have heeded the computer warning because I am constantly watching my children careen towards disaster while I pull them back.

First, Starbucks posted to Facebook on my timeline as ME.
Then it got much worse.

The next day, McDonalds posted to Facebook, "Thanks McDonalds! That was a great meal - check out the new Menu! :)" - on my Timeline and TAGGED a group of my friends, which means that all of their friends saw the post as well. The strange element was that I had recently gone to a drive-through McD's with my phone and laptop with me. My phone is G3 and might have been searching for a network? I haven't been to a McD in years, it is purely road food, last resort, must eat now food.

I am not a paranoid person. I look for answers. I changed my passwords to everything.
I deactivated my Facebook account and opened a new one with a new name and a new email address, but I used the same computer. I also used the same phone, a DROID, which runs on a Google platform.

I logged on and suddenly my new accounts were linked and Starbucks posted on my new Facebook Timeline. This time I deleted my account.

What you need to know: Laptops are at risk. The program FIRESHEEP is easily used to grab your information. There is a Firesheep program for MAC computers.
The code used for internet addresses are either HTTP or HTTPS, the first one is not secure and on a public network, none of your "private information" is private. Below are some articles that help explain the identity theft.

FIRESHEEP  PC WORLD article

Firesheep at Starbucks, CNN Money

Hacking HTTP vs. HTTPS, Fast Company Article

Identity, virtual identity being stolen...only I am still alive and I am here to claim my place.

Bob's Daughter

Living or Dead

I received an email from Blogger, "What to do to keep Bob's Daughter alive..." - I could not stop laughing.
Apparently I have not posted in a VERY long time and now Bob's Daughter may DIE. But I don't believe it,  because I am not sure that one can actually die on the internet. It has however inspired me to post.

An acquaintance of mine, John, has actually died since I last posted, but he is still on my DROID phone. Not because I haven't tried to delete his contact information, but because he still has a facebook profile. I would have to delete all facebook contacts to remove him from my phone. Instead I must apparently "unfriend" him on facebook and then update my contacts from my phone. This is the new death ritual in the age of smart phones and facebook. No mistakes, this is a ritual, how many thousands of us must make the choice to look at our deceased friend's picture or "unfriend" him or her. You know me, I'm headed to facebook, the real world is challenging enough - the living or dead conundrum on- line needs attention and I will do my part.

Lots of love,
Bob's Daughter

Linked

I am not against search engines
that reunite or introduce people.
I merely think that it is prudent that the service tell you if the person is living or deceased. It is a matter of good manners. Or best business practices.

Facebook has set up memorial pages for people who have died.
This seems wise, though I wonder how long a time they maintain the page?

I have done something strange.
Some of you may be laughing because this entire blog and topic is strange...
something strange - even for me...

I googled "Linda Caigan", discovered that my mother is on LinkedIn, tried her usual password, and visited her page as Linda. She has one contact and one invitation to connect.

I considered taking it down, just canceling the account.
Then I had another idea.
We have already paid over $5,000 in death notice fees, perhaps this is another way to let people know that Linda has died?

I added a summary to her page regretting to inform people of her death.
I have no idea if anyone has read it.
LINDA CAIGAN at LinkedIn


xoxo,
Bob's Daughter