One of the first things I do in the morning is get my dose of news, usually from INQ7.net. After skimming the seemingly consistent stream of negative news in the headlines section, I move on to Infotech. As a kid, I used to go straight to the comics page or the Sports section. Now, since I’m working for an IT company, things changed.

I usually scan for items related to what I do as a marketing person i.e. the latest trends and large-scale movements within the international and local industry. Otherwise, I find so many interesting things written there.

There is this particular news today of a victim of identity theft which I aim to discuss.

Malicious activities have been present perhaps since day two of the Net. Over the years, security and privacy remained an issue as the Internet grew to global proportions. Now, practically everyone not living in the stone age is somehow connected to it.

Here’s my two cents worth on the topic:

1. Keeping journals serve many purposes – as writing exercises, therapy or just a hobby. No matter for which purpose it serves, keeping thoughts recorded, either through digital methods or through pen and paper (analog methods?), means that someway and somehow you have transformed thoughts into something concrete. Much like any other tangible object, these can be stolen and exposed to the world.

2. Never divulge too much personal information about yourself. Sure, profiles citing your favorite color or food can serve as a good picture of who you are. However, noting the exact direction or stroke that you shave your ‘stache with brand X razor using brand Y shaving cream that you bought exactly last Sunday at Watson’s at the first floor of SM North while singing with your dad’s Burt Bacharach CDs he bought last Christmas during your vacation in Virginia with your Tito Boy and Tita Baby before putting on your favorite Spongebob Squarepants boxers (oh and you have a mole on your left butt-cheek) is way too much information.

3. Written works expose many aspects of your personality. There have been many cases that forensic linguists have proven or disproven a case or two just by analyzing written works.

4. Be responsible of what you put in your blogs. If you are carelessly cursing people online and forgot to keep them private, you can be a sureshot convict of slander or defamation.

5. Maximize blog security options. You can stop search engines and spiders from obtaining information about your blog. Most web-based blogging engines can do this. Create your own private gossip circle with your friends with private and “Friends only” posts. Then again, if a careless friend leaves her account logged-in using a public terminal, you are still susceptible to other intrusions.

6. There is nothing more secure than keeping things to yourself. You might feel constipated at times but some things are not just meant to be made public. Maybe in due time but until then, keep it to yourself.

I will not try to come out clean as I have also been guilty of posting way too much information about myself. But since then, I try to be responsible of what I have written so far. I have also been a bit conscious since I have made a few not-so-keen-about-me acquaintances that revenge and pranks can be made easily against me.

Blogging and all things in life boil down to reposibility of our own actions. It is all about thinking things through and knowing that it is a vibratory universe. You only get what you give.