Good Advice?

[KerrAvon]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/.../uk-politics-20082493
I l like this bit:
"Andy Smith, an internet security chief at the Cabinet Office, said people should only give accurate details to trusted sites such as government ones."
Yea right!

[jackthehat]

Back so soon.........?

[ichkeria]

Putting a false name on Facebook is a ridiculous idea, unless the user themselves is up to no good.
As for the rest, better to give no info at all if you don't want people to know it.

Giving false info to e.g. a Government Gateway site is illegal.

[tommy-h]

Terrific advice I`d have thought.Would never give all relevant information to a stranger.Give out only what`s required to allow site manager to deal with your query-business.This woman has put her foot in it and not for the first time.Some people only open their mouth if they see a chance of publicity.

[ichkeria]

But this person is not suggesting withholding information, which is a sensible idea: he is advocating giving false information.

[tommy-h]

See what you mean ichkeria,but some sites only allow you to proceed if you fill in all fields.Surely no harm in putting false D.O.B.

[Gromit]

I do that.

When I joined AB many years ago I put in false details. When our profiles became public several people were surprised to find I was down as female. (I am male).

[ichkeria]

It depends what the site is and why the information is needed. The person appears to be talking about social networking sites though, which in my experience don't require you to fill in anything much at all.
I can't recall ever feeling moved to give a false address, though. I agree that if you don't think the information i of any use to the recipient and you can't proceed without giving it then you might as well say any old thing. Or you might decide to leave well alone.

[bazwillrun]

I never ever give anything but false details expect where there is no choice, and only an idiot with limited understanding of the workings of the internet, wwweb and online security would do otherwise.

"Putting a false name on Facebook is a ridiculous idea, unless the user themselves is up to no good. "

@ichkeria, youre obviously fall in to the above category I mentioned if thats what you believe

Youd be surprised at how much incorrect info you can give on some sites even when making online purchases and still get the purchase through ok.

[emmie]

seems an odd thing, besides how can you on sites like facebook?

[ichkeria]

"Youd be surprised at how much incorrect info you can give on some sites even when making online purchases and still get the purchase through ok. "

Of course you can. That isn't the point. If you are on a social networking site such as Facebook, and your name is Basil Willrun, you call yourself Norman Bloggs if you like but I'd question why you'd want to do that.
All my facebook friends, and everyone else I know who uses it, use their real names.
If, on the other hand, you don't need to give your address or any other personal details then it surely makes sense to leave them blank.
If you're buying something from a mail order company online you will generally want to give them your address if you're expecting a delivery from them. If there's information they don't need but you are obliged to give then by all means put in any old rubbish.