I have assembled data on over 1000 family members and spouses with many photos and
finally published it online. The problem arose when i started inviting family to
participate. Some outright refuse to hear of anything on the Web about their family
and especially children and were quite upset with me for doing it. Most people
don't realize that there is plenty of info. about anyone alive today in govt.
records, school albums, etc. Of course I want to keep good feelings in the family
so I blanked out photos and marked items private altho I kept the hint of a
descendent and "male" or "female". What do others think of potential "threat"--real
or imagined? of hackers gaining access for identity theft or other nefarious
activity? How can genealogy be shared and still kept private? If I just work
offline, my data is too big to email (mailing CDs isn't practical except to one or
two) and even then isn't there a security risk? A recent article says the US govt.
is able to open and read most email (ugh! who would sit and read such boring
stuff?) using a table of keywords for searches. Maybe I should just stick to
ancestors who are no longer living? Very frustrating considering that I just have
good intentions. By the way, the site I chose is open only to "members" invited by
me and only part of the family is open to viewing. But members can also wiggle the
data and add stuff. Still, I am the manager so I see what is happening. Are
people naturally paranoid?
Avigdor Ben-Dov
RUTKIEWICZ, SOLARZ, NURZEC, SUSMAN, OLSHA, URWICZ

Avigdor:

I had a similar reaction >from one branch of my extended family. In fact, I have
not heard a peep >from my first cousin in several years following this issue
arising.

My view is that the fears are irrational. To illustrate, consider the fact that
everything that I had about that branch of the family I got by simply doing
internet searches! What I have is already out there on the web, largely posted by
the family themselves.

I use TNG, which is an inexpensive family tree program that can easily be
configured to disallow any access to family tree data without logging in. I have
no idea if it is hackable, but anyone who is that invested in data about my family
probably could get through anything, if you know what I mean.

Micah
Wahsington, DC

STERN, SALB, RUSS, BERMAN, KLEIN, FRIESLER/FRISLER, LUBRANETSKY

I have a tree on the web. I use password protection. So only family that
gets the password >from me can enter. *None* of the site is
searchable -- meaning that if any one google a persons names within my family
tree website it would not come up. All the information stays private.

David Syner