Message Boards » Website Suggestions/Feedback
TOPIC: Your MFP profile is searchable by Google, appears online? |
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Joined Oct 2011 Posts: 181 |
July 10, 2012 10:20 pm
I thought our profiles were private here if we chose to not display. Then I searched my profile name, and up it came, right to my page. Try it and you'll see. A weak link, MFP staffers. Really, like Facebook, if we set our settings to private-they ought to be PRIVATE. A good reason to not use a common nickname people may know you by...not all of us want the world to know about our weight loss journey.
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Joined Apr 2011 Posts: 240 |
July 10, 2012 10:22 pm
Hmm I tried it and you're right :( luckily for me 'maddiey' comes up as a million other things too lol. Your profile was the very first thing that came up when I typed deedorn. :(
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Joined Jun 2012 Posts: 49 |
July 10, 2012 10:23 pm
Well, thats not usually a problem for me because when you google my name, you hit about 1,000,000 sites for a Canadian porn star with the same name. I'm not even a thought until page 10 or so...lol. But seriously, i agree with you. Maybe you should post in technical help?
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Joined May 2011 Posts: 416 |
July 10, 2012 10:23 pm
@OP: do you happen to live in paso robles? if so, your facebook profile is wide open for the world to see too.
Edited by stronglikebull On July 10, 2012 10:23 pm
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Joined Dec 2010 Posts: 11,230 |
July 10, 2012 10:25 pm
if you're not logged into MFP when you access your profile all you see is your username and profile picture, which every one can see.
if you're logged into MFP it appears you have your profile set to MFP members only as I can see more than just the username/ profile pic, but not your recent activity. But it is indeed (if you're wanting "privacy", rather than one of the "open" who don't care who can pick pieces from here and there...) a good policy to use a unique username on every site you're a member of. This is the only site i go by this ID on, I am not linked to any external sites / devices here. The other sites I'm a member of have different email addresses for me as well as different usernames.... up to you how "compartmented" you go.
Edited by Pandorian On July 10, 2012 10:27 pm
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Joined Sep 2011 Posts: 34 |
July 10, 2012 10:26 pm
So are links to the threads you have posted in too!
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Joined Dec 2010 Posts: 11,230 |
July 10, 2012 10:28 pm
Forums are "public info" I've yet to find a forum (in general) that isn't open for "anyone" to view, though most do require you to be a member to post in them.
Car repair sites - yep viewable computer support - viewable without being a member game / entertainment sites - viewable... you can browse the forums here without being logged in but you can't post to them unless you're logged in
Edited by Pandorian On July 10, 2012 10:29 pm
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Joined Apr 2011 Posts: 1,244 |
July 10, 2012 10:34 pm
Yeah someone pointed this out, and I can only hope that no one cares enough about me to look. Although a friend and I looked our names up on google, and since there are "one or less persons in the U.S." with my name, it's pretty easy to see stuff I've responded to on FB. Awesome.
His name is so generic there are a million of him...well a lot at least. Lame. |
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Joined Feb 2012 Posts: 495 |
July 10, 2012 10:38 pm
My profile is set to MFP members only, and when I am logged out and find my profile on Google the only thing that is revealed is my user name and picture. Since no other personal details are revealed (such as any of my other profile information) I don't consider this is privacy breach at all. But I definitely agree, using a random nickname is always a good practice.
Edited to note... if you look at your account privacy settings page, it clearly states this message: Note: Your username and your main photo are always visible.
Edited by StarkLark On July 10, 2012 10:39 pm
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Joined Mar 2012 Posts: 78 |
July 10, 2012 10:42 pm
It's only because you are logged in. Your web browser is smart and passes the relevant cookies in the http request. It doesn't mean the public can view it.
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Joined Mar 2011 Posts: 2,415 |
July 10, 2012 10:44 pm
I had to change my online profile name for this reason. I realized my ex could search my normal user name I always used and find out way too much info about me so I selected a completely different user name that he wouldn't think to use and changed all my user names at any sites I frequent. It's not unique to MFP that you can google a user name and find out a bunch of info on someone.
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Joined Feb 2012 Posts: 495 |
July 10, 2012 10:45 pm
QUOTE: It's only because you are logged in. Your web browser is smart and passes the relevant cookies in the http request. It doesn't mean the public can view it. Agreed, I have verified this with my own account. 
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Joined Jun 2011 Posts: 3,595 |
July 10, 2012 10:53 pm
That's exactly the reason why I changed my username. Although my old username consisted of my given name initials then my whole surname but I opted just to change the entire name instead.
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Joined Oct 2011 Posts: 181 |
July 11, 2012 12:02 am
no, that's not my facebook name or page...
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Joined Jul 2012 Posts: 170 |
July 11, 2012 12:06 am
Every link for my name is for the actual Rocket shaped Popsicles :) Except one - my twitter link is a few down, but thats fine with me :)
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Joined Oct 2011 Posts: 181 |
July 11, 2012 12:13 am
It kept going right to my profile no matter my settings, cookies or log in. So I switched my name. Something to think about though :-)
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Joined Jan 2012 Posts: 1,446 |
July 11, 2012 12:18 am
Too bad you can only switch your username on here once b/c I have used mine up and after knowing this I would possibly make is something different...Even though it is different than my FB name.
One question though...I saw that when I logged out you could only see my name and pic on here b/c I put for MFP members only in the settings but I am always logged in so that I don't have to do it each time I get on my pc....Does this mean that people can see my whole profile b/c I am logged in constantly?...Should I log out all of the time now??? Just curious...I need to check from someone elses pc I guess... :(
Edited by autumnk921 On July 11, 2012 12:19 am
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Joined May 2012 Posts: 2,599 |
July 11, 2012 12:26 am
you might think everyone wants to know your business, but trust me, they don't care.
when was the last time you googled someone? and did you care when you found out they were getting healthy? unless you get a stalker that creeps on ya ;) i wouldn't worry about it. the world doesn't revolve around you. no one give a f. 
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Joined Dec 2010 Posts: 11,230 |
July 11, 2012 2:39 am
No, you don't need to log out to prevent others to see your profile.
The reason the site presents differently when you log out is that the browser is smart enough to communicate between tabs. You can't open a browser tab and be logged in to MFP and open another tab and be logged out of MFP at the same time (you COULD do this by trying another internet browser such as if you're on firefox and logged in, go to MFP via the Chrome or safari browser on the same computer... you'd have to log in to be able to view your "mfp members only" profile You have to log out to make the site realize that you're "not" a member... it's the fact that you're "logged in" that says you're a MFP user and should be able to see the profile info (for those set to viewable by MFP members)
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Joined Feb 2011 Posts: 3 |
July 11, 2012 7:02 pm
Wow!! You're absolutely correct - the profile appears even if it is marked as viewable by "members only." Doesn't MFP realize how sensitive users are to having their data simply out there for the world to see? You'd think they would be concerned about HIPAA violations . . . .
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Joined Jun 2011 Posts: 1,214 |
July 11, 2012 7:12 pm
It won't appear to the public if you select it to be private in the settings.
You can test it by making sure you log out of MFP and then trying to open the profile. No "personal" data on the profile will appear to the public. Just make sure you select the correct privacy option in the settings.
Edited by sunrise611 On July 11, 2012 7:57 pm
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Joined Aug 2011 Posts: 1,373 |
July 11, 2012 7:18 pm
QUOTE: It won't appear to the public if you choose for it to be public in the settings. You can test it by making sure you log out of MFP and then trying to open the profile. No "personal" data on the profile will appear to the public. Just make sure you select that option in the settings. ^^^This....I logged out and did a google and I didn't see anything on my profile.....except my profile pic.... 
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Joined Jun 2012 Posts: 1,828 |
July 11, 2012 7:26 pm
Yes, the whole world is watching us.
Be proud of your journey. It could inspire somebody to take hold of their health. That's just great that people in our family, communities and society can see right into our MFP lives.... .......watching us......following our every move....focusing on our challenges.....laughing..... Just stand tall and be proud of your journey. Good Luck
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Joined Feb 2012 Posts: 401 |
July 11, 2012 8:50 pm
QUOTE: Wow!! You're absolutely correct - the profile appears even if it is marked as viewable by "members only." Doesn't MFP realize how sensitive users are to having their data simply out there for the world to see? You'd think they would be concerned about HIPAA violations . . . . HIPAA has nothing to do with a person making a personal choice to go into a public website and post info about yourself. It's definitely not a violation nor does it even remotely apply here. It's not medical information and it's the actual 'patient' or user that is posting their OWN info about themselves. MFP realizes that your information is personal and they make a note of it when you sign up that your user name and photo are viewable at all times. Anything else beyond that is a personal responsibility. 
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Posts by members, moderators and admins should not be considered medical advice and no guarantee is made against accuracy.