Post to Twitter, Get Robbed
Sometimes new technologies can inflame old problems. For example, consider location based social networks. Many sites like Twitter and Foursquare make it easy to post both what you’re doing and your current location. This is a great concept, and as technologies go there are huge possibilities for combining location information with social networking. But there’s just one catch: if you’re out and Tweeting about it, then you’re probably not at home. And that makes your home a perfect target for robbery.
To help people become more aware about the ramifications of announcing that their plasma TV is unguarded, a new site has appeared called Please Rob Me. Using the magic of social search, they track various networks and then list the posts from people who are clearly not at home. Of course, this has caused quite a stir online as many have wondered whether or not something like this is legal, ethical, or even right?
What does Please Rob Me have to say? Have a look at their page simply titled “why“:
The goal of this website is to raise some awareness on this issue and have people think about how they use services like Foursquare, Brightkite, Google Buzz etc. Because all this site is, is a dressed up Twitter search page. Everybody can get this information.
On the Internet, your information is never really safe and sometimes privacy is just an illusion. What do you think? Do social location technologies have a place, despite the fact they advertise that your Playstation is unguarded? Or will people start being more careful announcing they’re at Joe’s Bar downtown?
As for me, I’m currently at the uTest Mother Ship. My house is guarded by two dogs. My driveway is kind of long, and good luck driving up it in the winter. I don’t own a Playstation or a plasma TV.
Greetings everyone,
This is absolutely right what is mentioned in this blog post. Most of the people are so addicted to social networking and they share each and every personal details in public. Say for example: Birthday date on Orkut or any other social networking etc. With Birthday provided it might or might not be possible to crack the e-mail ID account. So there is opportunity for crackers on these social networking portals to crack the accounts. I have seen many accounts being cracked in Orkut / Gmail. So be aware of what information you are sharing on micro blogging or social networking portals. Some details have to be kept confidential to secure yourself *smiles*.
5/5 rating for this post for creating awareness *smiles*.
Thanks,
Santhosh Shivanand Tuppad
Thanks Santhosh!
@Santhosh I would like to disagree here. I think there are far more accurate and time tested old methods to rob somebody. One of them would be to call on their land-line and check. Not to mention even if a person were to leave his home, what is the assurance the premises will be empty. All the site does is return an updated twitter search feed, you don’t really need a website for it.