Protecting your identity/real life reputation using disinformation.

In the past, despite attempts to conceal their identity using private domain registration, businesses under someone else's name, and the specifics of their business being shared strictly on a need to know basis; someone eventually finds out the identity of someone behind a website/business and blasts their name, address, or whatever else they can find on them to cause trouble.

In the physical world, the key to disappearing in a way where no one can find you isn't to leave as little evidence as possible; but to leave as much evidence in the form of inaccurate information as possible pointing in so many different directions, that the cost of finding the person is too high to pursue.

So I wonder if the same method would work online? Once a business upsets enough people to start being easily found when searching, to protect your real life reputation you could post in various complaint threads about having discovered the true owner of the website/business. Using different fictitious names, places, associates, etc, each time would lead to a situation where should someone actually find out who you are, it wouldn't be as noticeable. Net result, your identity is protected, and you might even reduce the number of attempts to find out who you are if someone believes someone else already has.

It's an idea I've tossed around in my head for awhile, and figured I'd share it here to see if anyone might have any opinions or criticism for the idea.

So... thoughts?

I would first question why you're in a revolving door business where you can't be proud of what you're doing. If you're having to constantly hide from customers, you're probably not in the right line of work.

BHopkins said:

I would first question why you're in a revolving door business where you can't be proud of what you're doing. If you're having to constantly hide from customers, you're probably not in the right line of work.

Click to expand...

I cant agree more. Hiding is only used when you have done something stupid. If you want to build a legit and a good business DO NOT HIDE and dont care about being exposed in public.

Actually, the idea doesn't need to be for doing bad things. C level executives of major companies get threats all the time. I was thinking about getting into VIP armed security after the military, but couldn't stand the type of personality that comes with most rich men. Pompous, diva, etc.

This, however, might be a good thing to pitch for security firms, that always like having as many tools as they can...

Posted via Topify on Android

JonnyMehoff said:

Actually, the idea doesn't need to be for doing bad things. C level executives of major companies get threats all the time. I was thinking about getting into VIP armed security after the military, but couldn't stand the type of personality that comes with most rich men. Pompous, diva, etc.

Click to expand...

California has confidential marriage licenses for I'd presume this very reason (hollywood types marrying without being public record).

I personally prefer to not be known for even the things I have no reason to hide, primarily out of a desire to be treated like everyone else. No questioning motives/intentions when they think you're a nobody.

Disinformation intrigues me from a security perspective and is actually quite useful for victims of stalkers/abuse. Akin to lawyers burying someone in paper.

Yes, this does work well, that's what the "famous hacker" @th3j35t3r does. He hasn't had his info leaked... yet.

I see a hilarious method developing in a few people's minds:

Scrape yellow pages of addresses,
GSA spam on 24/7 with 1 name and 100,000 addresses. Hell, it might be so effective, the person being protected doesn't know where he or she lives anymore!

BHopkins said:

I would first question why you're in a revolving door business where you can't be proud of what you're doing. If you're having to constantly hide from customers, you're probably not in the right line of work.

Click to expand...

There are a lot of crazys out there, it's not about him doing something shady, you're just being cynical. It's about not having a disgruntled customer do a WhoIs search on him and coming round his family home with a hammer in their hand. That's one of the things about being in front of a worldwide audience who ARE anonymous to you.