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Why it’s not really my birthday

Posted by Christopher S Penn on Oct 1, 2007 in Privacy | 26 comments

More than a few people were posting birthday wishes this morning as soon as I logged on. That’s very kind of everyone, and I appreciate it… but it’s not my birthday.

October 4, 1975 (for MySpacers) and October 23, 1975 (Facebookers) are relatively close to my birthday, but not in fact my birthdays. I use these online in lots of places because it’s convenient, easy to remember, and most importantly, it allows me to know which companies online have compromised my privacy.

Date of birth is one of the holy trinity of identity fraud. Name, date of birth, and social security number will get you VERY far as an identity thief. Combine it with an address, and you’ve got just about everything you need. It’s also a highly-prized piece of marketing data.

Do you trust social networking companies like MySpace and Facebook to not resell your information? I certainly don’t, especially given recent privacy breaches. I wholly expect them to compromise my privacy and then cite some obscure clause buried deep in the terms of service that allows them to do so. I trade with them. You can compromise my online privacy and resell my data, and in return, I’ll give you bad data. We’re both happy that way, and chances are your marketing partners won’t know the difference anyway.

Is it my intent to deceive my online friends? Not at all. It’s to deceive the companies that aggregate personal data online – including the major social networking services. Hence, thanks to everyone for the UnBirthday wishes.

What are YOU telling data aggregators?

Len Edgerly

Can you say which sites you’ve caught sharing your birthday data? How can you tell?
http://Lenedgerly Len Edgerly

Can you say which sites you’ve caught sharing your birthday data? How can you tell?
http://2centsworth.podshow.com/ AJ

Please do tell, I would love to know how you can tell as well!
http://2centsworth.podshow.com AJ

Please do tell, I would love to know how you can tell as well!
http://www.ChristopherSPenn.com/ Christopher S. Penn

I’ve gotten some suspicious birthday messages for October 2, which is the date on my MySpace profile. October 1 is Facebook. Keep a sheet of sites with slightly different dates. I also use two letter codes for my middle initial for sites when registering if possible – i.e. Christopher MS Penn, Christopher FB Penn, etc.
http://www.ChristopherSPenn.com Christopher S. Penn

I’ve gotten some suspicious birthday messages for October 2, which is the date on my MySpace profile. October 1 is Facebook. Keep a sheet of sites with slightly different dates. I also use two letter codes for my middle initial for sites when registering if possible – i.e. Christopher MS Penn, Christopher FB Penn, etc.
http://www.quebecbalado.com/ sylvain grandmaison

Happy birthday whenever it may be. I don’t think it’s the actual day that is important more than the fact that we want to send you wishes.Thanks for sharing your birthday and name strategies with us.
http://www.quebecbalado.com sylvain grandmaison

Happy birthday whenever it may be. I don’t think it’s the actual day that is important more than the fact that we want to send you wishes.Thanks for sharing your birthday and name strategies with us.
http://spaetzel.com/ Wililam Spaetzel

Well happy Un-Birthday! And best wishes when your real birthday rolls around.
http://spaetzel.com Wililam Spaetzel

Well happy Un-Birthday! And best wishes when your real birthday rolls around.
http://metrohair.blogspot.com/ Phillip

Nice. Very clever.
http://metrohair.blogspot.com Phillip

Nice. Very clever.
David Beaudouin

Smart tracking techniques–I use different names as well. Whenever your birthday is, have a good one!
David Beaudouin

Smart tracking techniques–I use different names as well. Whenever your birthday is, have a good one!
Art Vandelay

Great tips. Take it a step further, I’d say, and start using the SSN of that guy from LifeLock, the one who has a 1MM identity fraud guarantee.

I did the same sort of thing with any site that requires SSN — which, btw, it’s technically illegal to use for anything other than social security data.
Art Vandelay

Great tips. Take it a step further, I’d say, and start using the SSN of that guy from LifeLock, the one who has a 1MM identity fraud guarantee.

I did the same sort of thing with any site that requires SSN — which, btw, it’s technically illegal to use for anything other than social security data.
http://idreamincolors.com/ Nico

Clever
http://idreamincolors.com Nico

Clever
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http://www.davemadethat.com Dave Delaney

Ha! Nice one Chris. Very smart. I was wondering too, because I didn't see your birthday listed in Facebook, yet I saw messages wishing you a happy birthday. I was curious what was going on, but not curious enough to research the *real* birthday of Mr. Christopher S. Penn – if that IS your real name!

I think I'm going to start referring to you as Christopher “Keyser Söze” Penn.
http://www.davemadethat.com Dave Delaney

Ha! Nice one Chris. Very smart. I was wondering too, because I didn't see your birthday listed in Facebook, yet I saw messages wishing you a happy birthday. I was curious what was going on, but not curious enough to research the *real* birthday of Mr. Christopher S. Penn – if that IS your real name!

I think I'm going to start referring to you as Christopher “Keyser Söze” Penn.
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http://twitter.com/shersteve Steve Sherlock

Chris, that's a good reason. Then take my wishes for a happy birthday today for whenever it really is! It is the wish that counts no matter the day.
http://twitter.com/shersteve Steve Sherlock

Chris, that's a good reason. Then take my wishes for a happy birthday today for whenever it really is! It is the wish that counts no matter the day.
http://conniecrosby.blogspot.com conniecrosby

Awesome. I do the exact same thing, and advise others to do this as well. Happy birthday, whenever it is (was)!
http://conniecrosby.blogspot.com conniecrosby

Awesome. I do the exact same thing, and advise others to do this as well. Happy birthday, whenever it is (was)!
http://conniecrosby.blogspot.com conniecrosby

Awesome. I do the exact same thing, and advise others to do this as well. Happy birthday, whenever it is (was)!
http://www.christinegreen.com/ Christine Green

Chris,
I hear you. I do the same thing but on Facebook they have my real birthday. I’m too attached to the wishes and celebration…and love sending wishes to my FB friends. I’m sure our sentimental ways are leaving us open to exploitation. That’s too bad.

I enjoy your contribution to Six Pixels/Media Hacks podcast. Thanks!
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