Slashdot | MySpace Private Pictures Leak

[jason]

Originally published at Lemmingworks. You can comment here or there.

I’ve talked a lot about protecting children’s information online; particularly the notion that anything can be hacked, and that what you put online is probably going to be there forever. This has a big impact on teens who post pictures of themselves on various sites which can then be googled when they’re older and looking for jobs. Even if they mark an image as private on, say, Myspace, someone they know can copy the image and post it publicly. Parents and educators should be aware of similar potential problems.

Sure, share pictures online, but think about it. If you’re comfortable with anyone seeing the image, even though you’d rather they didn’t, then fine. But if the thought horrifies you in relation to a particular image, then you’d better choose another image to share.

This problem with MySpace is a bleak reminder.

Slashdot | MySpace Private Pictures Leak
“We all heard about the MySpace vulnerability that allowed everyone to access pictures that have been set to private at MySpace. That vulnerability got closed down pretty fast. Unfortunately though (for MySpace) someone did use an automated script to run over 44,000 profiles that downloaded all private pictures which resulted in a 17 Gigabyte zip file with more than 560,000 pictures. The zip file is now showing up on popular torrent sites across the net.”

And here is the longer article: Pillaged MySpace Photos Show Up in Massive BitTorrent Download on Wired.com

Comments

[visualacuity.livejournal.com]

It's definitely something people should consider with facebook as well. I would never post any pics that were private for this sole reason, and my partner will not even join facebook because he thinks these online websites are being monitored which they are. Imagine not getting a job because of a picture you posted 5 years back!

[complicittheory.livejournal.com]

Exactly. I put pictures online back in 1995 before we realized. But to be honest, I like putting pictures online... that I don't mind people seeing. To think that web sites are being monitored and reality is not, is more naive though. Surveillance in cities and institutions is rampant. At least you can often choose what pictures are posted online.

[akittymeow.livejournal.com]

I like putting pictures online too, I think even before taking a picture you should consider the possibility that someone else might get it, no matter if its from your own camera or friends'. I mean, as long as you are fine with the pictures, its alright to post them.

But it is a bit scary to find your pictures on search engines, I remember I posted pictures on my personal blog when I visited Greece, and i renamed one of my group picture to "Greece" and searched in google image, then I found it! I didn't mind people seeing it but it was shocking to know how fast it went up on google image already!

[complicittheory.livejournal.com]

Yes! It is a shock for sure. Would it be more shocking if you didn't know someone had even taken a picture?

[akittymeow.livejournal.com]

yeah of course, that's kind of to sad.

I just think we are responsible for our own actions and postures anywhere anytime, then we don't have to worry at all. But again, exceptions to those people who doesn't bother asking if they are allowed or not to post pictures of their friends....

[nwilliam.livejournal.com]

Among colleagues within our board we have made a personal decision not to have personal photo’s of ourselves on facebook, myspace ect. However, that being said we are aware also aware that we have limited control over what others post. (We’re a little bit older and alot less bolder than we used to be..Bob Segar)It is possible that your past may come back to haunt you; and poses the question "Who is Big Brother?" The V.I.P. program offered by the York Region Police Association touches on this point with grade 8 students who are so often desensitized and naive (living in the now). Would a preteen be embarrassed by an infant photo of them in the buff from 12 years ago? Will they be embbarrassed by a photo of themselves today 12 years from now?

[complicittheory.livejournal.com]

That's very much a good question regarding embarrassment. My friend blogged baby photos for the first 5 years of her child's life, but then was asked, by the child, to stop it.