Displaying your Birthday date

[fireball]

I don't know how many of you are aware, but I've noticed quite a few peeps displaying their complete DOB. Whilst this data isn't exactly private, it is one of the key pieces of info required to verify you to financial institutions.

If you wish to display your birthday then fair enough, but I urge you to put a fictitious year in.

 

[jhr]

...or no year at all - it appears to be an optional field?

 

[Boomshanka]

I see that they all appear on the 'Calendar' (see the buttons near the top), including ages on some!

 

[25931]

DoB

So what ?

 

[fireball]

that's constructive ... I've already said why ... but are you replying direct to Boomshanka's comment that they all apear in the Calendar?

 

[glashen]

DOB

I tend not to put my Date of Birth on Forum information, intriguingly my Dob on here is wrong, don't know how that happened?.

But really if Financial institutions rely on such flimsy security then it's there look out, not mine, and I speak as someone whose credit card was compromised, still think it was the bank's fault for not having better procedures, and the fact I now may have to actually verify my identity in a secure way strikes me as a plus not a negative.

 

[fireball]

well - it's not all they rely on - but it's one piece of info that could be used if trying to steal someones identity.

 

[glashen]

DOB

I know but I think you are falling into the trap of using the bank/ media term "steal someones identity" Fraudsters aren't really stealing an identity they are fraudulently misrepresenting themselves as someone else and then stealing the banks money, due IMHO to the banks lack of proper security in the first place.

 

[Paulka]

Click on my profile, and you'll find that I was born on 30 November 2009 !
... And, no I didn't fill it in myself.
So good luck to the identity thieves.

Paul

 

[fireball]

hmm - so you're not born yet!! Cool!

 

[David_Jersey]

I know but I think you are falling into the trap of using the bank/ media term "steal someones identity" Fraudsters aren't really stealing an identity they are fraudulently misrepresenting themselves as someone else and then stealing the banks money, due IMHO to the banks lack of proper security in the first place.

Nicely put.

 

[lenseman]

Neurosis and Paranoia rule!!

 

[jason -and the arguenauts]

I know but I think you are falling into the trap of using the bank/ media term "steal someones identity" Fraudsters aren't really stealing an identity they are fraudulently misrepresenting themselves as someone else and then stealing the banks money, due IMHO to the banks lack of proper security in the first place.

Exactly. Not only that but it's a relatively rare event anyway so why are we all afraid of it? The answer of course is that it is exagerated by the press just as the prevalence of paedos or your chance of being murdered or the terrorist threat are also exagerated

 

[fireball]

Fine - you can publish your DOBs if you so wish ... but some ppl prefer not to - so I was just bringing this to their attention ...

 

[Kilter]

Neurosis and Paranoia rule!!

Do they? Oh crikey! That's a worry! Is anything being done about it? I can tell I just will not be able to sleep tonight!