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High on a Hill

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by Hillary Chan, Malaysia

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How many psychopaths are there online?

Mar 7, 2009 13:10

I lost my dog a few days ago and have posted up notices with a temporary phone number for neighbors to call if they spot her.

Since then, I have answered calls from a man who claimed to have kidnapped my dog and has sold her to a neighboring country; a man who wanted to know if my lover had sold my dog after a disagreement; another man who asked if I could smell my dog over the phone (he claims the dog is with him); and even one guy who invited me to his house to pick up my dog.

These incidents have sent chills down my spine. If there are so many lunatics in my tiny offline neighborhood, I cannot imagine how many there must be in my borderless online world. I have always known the need to be wary of leaving a trail of myself online, but I am sure I have been careless at times.

Now, more than ever, I am grateful to be using the Norton Internet Security 2009 which comes with Norton Identity Safe. I used to lazily store passwords on my browser, which is easily retrievable by anyone who knows anything about hacking computers.

The new Norton 360 (v 3.0), which includes Norton Safe Web and Norton Identity Safe, is out, and I'm sure it is worth checking out.

Disclaimer: I don't work for Symantec, but I am an unabashed fan of Norton security products.

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montbkk

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montbkk says...
Yes, there are many mentally ill people in the world and the percentage of the ill is even greater on the internet: anyplace where normal human contact is not regulated through social norms one will find a higher percentage of the marginal.

Go on almost any forum which allows non forum subject related posts and it will be full of the socially awkward, the uneducated and unsuccessful, the strange and the lonely living out fantized lifestyles anonymously over the internet.

One must be very careful with personal identifiable information found on one's computer or posted anywhere on the web.

Mar 08, 2009 00:40

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leegc

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leegc says...
Just curious did you managed to find your dog in the end? We've a pet dog ourselves and would just hate to lose him as he's part of the family for 10 years. Good luck on your search!

Mar 09, 2009 16:21

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montbkk

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montbkk says...
How rude of me! leegc has reminded me of your dog...did you find your baby?

I love our two dogs and wouldn't know what to do if something were to happen to them. I just said a pray that you two are reunited soon.

Mar 09, 2009 22:45

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jdmtee

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jdmtee says...
This world is overrun with nutcases, its only going to get worse. What frightens me more than anything is the anonymity of the internet in a visual sense. In chatrooms you have no idea who (or what) you are talking to someone that says they are one thing probably is the other. Its funny how the internet has freed us, but bound us so tightly.

Hope your dog is found soon (if not already!) keep safe and remember there ARE some decent folk still around!

Mar 10, 2009 05:43

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Hillary

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Hillary says...
Thanks for asking about my dog guys, I don't expect that because this is a technology blog after all.

Kero has not been found yet, went missing 7 days ago and was last spotted two days back. I've pretty much given up on that girl.

Good to know there are still some decent folks around. :)

Mar 10, 2009 13:25

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