New software can identify you from your online habits

[Richard D]

CREEPY!
* * * * *

* 16 May 2007
* NewScientist.com news service
* Paul Marks

IF YOU thought you could protect your privacy on the web by lying about your personal details, think again. In online communities at least, entering fake details such as a bogus name or age may no longer prevent others from working out exactly who you are.

That is the spectre raised by new research conducted by Microsoft. The computing giant is developing software that could accurately guess your name, age, gender and potentially even your location, by analysing telltale patterns in your web browsing history. But experts say the idea is a clear threat to privacy - and may be illegal in some places.

Previous studies show there are strong correlations between the sites that people visit and their personal characteristics, says software engineer Jian Hu from Microsoft's research lab in Beijing, China. For example, 74 per cent of women seek health and medical information online, while only 58 per cent of men do. And 34 per cent of women surf the internet for information about religion, whereas 25 per cent of men do the same.

http://www.newscientisttech.com/article.ns?id=mg19426046.400&feedId=being-human_rss20

[SeattleGirl]

1. Agent Mike is still on the case, I see.

Was just talking on the phone to another DUer, whose phone kept beeping. Usually, my phone is the one that beeps during conversations. Told him I thought that perhaps Agent Mike had chosen to bug HIS phone tonight instead of mine.

Agent Mike: Fuck you!

[canetoad]

2. Does that mean I have to stop registering

at nosey sites as George Bush DOB 1st April, address 666 Saddam Hussein Way Baghdad?

[Kiouni]

3. I see you moved from Impeachment Circle.

[Richard D]

4. Just cause this needs a kick

Posted really late at night, and I think it's important.