How to avoid sharing personal info online
Found on CNet News on Monday, 02 May 2011
You can't trust anyone on the Web. Just ask the millions of people who signed up for Sony's PlayStation Network and who now must protect against possible hack attacks on their bank accounts and other private data lost due the recent data breach.
In addition to your credit card number and e-mail address, Web services may require--or at least request--other personal information. Unless the company will be shipping something to you, there's no need to give out your street or mailing address.
For example, when a service requires that I fill in my birth date, I use the earliest date it allows, such as January 1, 1905. I get a big kick out of seeing the geriatric-aid ads this generates.
Always make up fake information, unless you real identity is really required; for example, to have a shop mail your order to you or when you open a bank account. A gaming network has no reason whatsoever to demand the real identity of their users. Worst thing that can happen is the termination of the account; and even if they threaten to take legal action for signing up with false information, I'd be interesting to see such a case go to court. Always use imaginary names, throwaway emails, random countries, birthdates and of course different passwords. Try not to re-use the same fake identity twice. Sadly, one of the best defenses is not available: a whitelist for your bank account, so that you have to explicitely grant permission for every debit transfer. Recurring debits could be allowed to whitelisted accounts only. Think of it as a firewall for your account, with bank account numbers taking the place of the IP.