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From / Date: |
Question / Answer: |
| 4143. |
Phil
Eugene, OR
Age: 44
Apr 27, 2008
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Maiden Name
I'm curious about the legality of a wife using her maiden name on various documents. Can she apply for a passport but use her maiden name? Can she open a bank account under her maiden name as the member of an LLC? P.O. Box? Pros and cons? Do and Don'ts. Advice? Just interested in protecting privacy but doing so without inadvertently violating a obscure law somewhere.
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Many women keep their maiden name when they marry, which means their ID (DL, passport) remains the same. The problem arises when they revert to a maiden name after using their married name for years. About four years ago, my wife opened a bank account in her maiden mame (after using her married name for 46 years) and their was no problem. In fact, she can receive and deposit checks made out in just her initials. She still has the account and plans to keep it, because recent attempts to open other accounts in her maiden name have proved to be futile.
As for a passport, why not try for a maiden name, using a certified copy of the birth certificate? The worst that can happen is merely that the application will be rejected.
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| 4142. |
Kevin
Sacramento, CA
Age: 44
Apr 27, 2008
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Re: How to Become Web Dead
Great article on becoming “dead” online. However, I believe that social networking sites, blogs, etc., can be useful to those trying to diminish their presence online. To illustrate, the Forbes article said, “if a blogger or mainstream media outlet mentions you on the Web, Google will find the page for years to come.” At the same time you are taking down information online that can be used to identify you, why not flood the networking sites, blogs, etc., with fake information under your real name? If you posted a particularly embarrassing comment to a message board or whatever, and someone searched your name in myspace, facebook, google, they might find, say, 20 profiles/web sites that you created that contain your real name, but different addresses/locations, phone numbers, pictures, interests, friends, etc. Anyone looking for you is going to get a little confused.
To give an example, I am a white male in my 40s. However, if someone searches google, myspace, etc., one profile that comes up is a latino male in his 20s who loves soap operas. I have created dozens of other profiles like this on many sites. The item that I want off the internet is now deep in the search engines and if someone manages to find it, there are several “individuals” who could be connected to it. This method is pretty much pointless if your last name is common, but I think it could help if you have a unique name.
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| 4141. |
Wendy
Richardson, TX
Age: 44
Apr 27, 2008
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Becoming Web Dead--Linda
Thanks, Linda. I'm glad the article is helpful. You're right. Living the HTBI life can be challenging at times but I wouldn't give up for anything known to man the privacy I've gained through adapting HTBI techniques to my specific needs and using other privacy techniques to supplement what I learn here so I can have a life and still have my privacy. Now, just about everything I do, I do with keeping or enhancing my privacy top of mind. It can take a lot of planning and it's not cheap but it's worth it and I won't go back willingly!
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| 4140. |
Linda
San Francisco, CA
Age: 35
Apr 27, 2008
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Becoming Web Dead - Wendy #4138
Thanks, Wendy, for the superb link on becoming "web dead"!
My favorite part of the article, and a lesson for us all: "...Search for Dead Addict's real name, which he declines to reveal, and he says you'll find a digital non-person: Other than a single forum comment he wrote some 13 years ago, the name offers no results. That anonymity comes from careful attention: Dead Addict has never blogged or created a social networking profile with his real name. Even his business cards carry only his first name and middle initial. "Fifteen years of keeping distinct identities takes a lot of work," he says..." Yep, living the HTBI life can be a pain in the butt aometimes, but worth it in the long run!
The Reputation Defender service looks like an interesting option, too. Has anyone here tried it?
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| 4139. |
Hugh
Sperryville, VA
Age: 53
Apr 27, 2008
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GPS Tracker
Here is a link to a company in California that sells the GPS Jammer. They are supposed to have it on site so it should not raise any flags if you order it.
Submitted Link #1: http://www.davidsteele.com/gps-jammer.html...
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They say, " . . . our GPS jammer won't mess with your cell phone's signal." Very strange. It appears you could therefore still be tracked by your cell phone.
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| 4138. |
Wendy
Richardson, TX
Age: 44
Apr 26, 2008
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How to Become Web Dead
Here's an article about substantially diminishing your internet presence, if you have one on sites like Facebook, MySpace, etc. It also tells you how to get negative content about you off the internet. This is a good article for those of you who are just starting your privacy efforts and have a strong presence on social networking sites or want to get your kids off of them or want to remove other embarrassing content.
Submitted Link #1: http://www.forbes.com/2008/03/06/disappear-online-...
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| 4137. |
Gary
Albuquerque, NM
Age: 40
Apr 26, 2008
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GPS Tracker Defense
Website to purchase GPS Tracker Defense device.
Many thanks for the advice and information.
Submitted Link #1: http://www.trackershack.co.uk/gps-tracker-defence-...
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The problem, Gary, is that it is shipped from the UK. It may or may not pass U.S. customs.
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| 4136. |
Wendy
Richardson, TX
Age: 44
Apr 26, 2008
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Name on Business Cards
I'm starting a new enterprise and want to have business cards printed. they will not have any mailing or other address on them; just a toll free number, email address and website address (with the same, limited contact information). The business is an LLC registered by a nominee (at an address in another part of the state and has the name of a NMLLC as its initial member listed) and I'm using an assumed name registered to the LLC under which to do business on the card, not the actual registered entity's name. Doing that makes the business more difficult to locate in public records.
Since I'm taking all these privacy steps, does it make sense to leave my name off the cards or us my first initial and last name only? I want the cards to look professional so I'll be taken seriously but I want to maintain as much of my privacy as possible without appearing to be running from the law or something. Since my "public" address (the one on my license, registration and credit reports) is in another state and I reveal little info about my physical address to most people, would putting my name on such a generic business card cause problems? Thanks.
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If you are starting a new business, why not use another similar last name but one which has a different first or second letter and yet sounds somewhat similar to your last name?
I assume the name you use on this website is not your true name, so the following is just an example. Suppose your name is Judy Clarke. You could use Judy Larke or Judy Starke.
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| 4135. |
mike
Phoenix, AZ
Age: 37
Apr 26, 2008
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telemarketing/junkmail
the website proquo.com is a one-stop place to opt out of junkmail,telemarketing,some online databases, etc. they don't sell your info either. very convenient...
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| 4134. |
Steve
Washington, DC
Age: 43
Apr 26, 2008
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How To Be Happy
Just came across this "Top 50" Famous French Quote:
Pour vivre heureux, vivons caché.
"If you want to live happy, live hidden."
Submitted Link #1: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/7477/50_f...
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I couldn't agree more!
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| 4133. |
Will
Reynoldsburg, OH
Age: 33
Apr 26, 2008
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SSN redaction/public office website
To #4127/Jeff... Why bother with a letter writing campaign? Pick up the phone and call your local television stations (perhaps you have a "Channel X On Your Side" segment producer?). Tell them what's going on. Local news stations love these kinds of stories.
We recently had a spate of them in Columbus, Ohio, when it became known that you could visit the municipal clerk of courts office and just randomly enter social security numbers until you found one that worked, and up came someone's file. While your issue appears to be image based (i.e. you'd need to scan document images to find SSNs, reversing the approach), the appeal to the media is the same.
While I'm not familiar with Tennessee law, my guess is that the record disclosures on local government websites there are made in accordance with the state's public records law, and it is almost certainly already unlawful for a public office there to disclose a social security number that appears on a public record under ordinary circumstances, i.e. the public official who runs the site in question probably has a genuine legal issue to resolve.
Honestly, I thought this disclosure of SSN stuff on local government websites was pretty much covered already. I'm surprised.
Submitted Link #1: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/st...
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| 4132. |
Jay
Princeton Junction, NJ
Age: 51
Apr 25, 2008
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Blocking GPS tracking
From Gizmodo, an article about a device for your car that can "block all GPS transmissions for a range of 5 meters". Of interest to the HTBI group because it actually makes your car invisible to satellites. There's a lot of valuable information in the comments following the article, including the suggestion that the device would also block attempts to track or bug your cellphone (another hot HTBI topic).
Submitted Link #1: http://gizmodo.com/383011/gps-tracker-defense-hide...
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I've seen a number of articles about this interesting device, but have yet to see who actually sells them.
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| 4131. |
Phil
Eugene, OR
Age: 44
Apr 25, 2008
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Registration in Oregon
I've attempted to inquire as a "non-resident" using vehicles in the state of Oregon. They were very clear that unless one is a "resident" and can prove such with utility bills, statements, etc., you may not register a vehicle in the state of Oregon or obtain an Oregon driver lic. My issue was registering a car in an LLC with an Alaska or Canary Island address since it will be there most of the time. Unfortunately, the DMV has stated that there are no exceptions to non residents getting a car registered in Oregon.
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I assume you have an Oregon DL, which may be part of the problem. But review what Josh #4128 says.
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| 4130. |
paul
Minneapolis, MN
Age: 53
Apr 25, 2008
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SSN freely available (Jeff #4127)
Jeff, this issue has come up around the country, and many people are working to put a stop to it. You may be able to make a difference in Tenn. Here's what I would do:Do a google search around terms like "social security number" and "county property records" . Throw in "redacted" in one of your searches. You should be able to find media coverage of how this has been handled in other states. For example, a few years ago, counties in Florida started doing the same thing. When a few people posted images of Jeb Bush's SSN and Porter Goss's SSN (he was CIA director at the time), county officials sat up and took notice. They quickly removed SSNs from the websites. Once you have those news media stories saved as links on your computer, your next step is to write to your county commissioners....every one of them, and tell them how you feel about the county making identity easy for criminals. Refer to the news media stories and send them the links (if you're emailing). One more thing that could be powerful, if you it respectfully; look up your commissioners' home addresses on zabasearch.com, then go to the records database and see if THEIR SSNs are online. If so, point out that they, too, are vulnerable.
Keep in mind that your letter will probably be public information. So you need to decide if that's for you. You could of course send an anonymous letter with info showing that the county officials are vulnerable. But you give them a better reason to act when you show that a constituent is being harmed.
If you hear nothing after three weeks, you could contact a local newspaper. But keep in mind that your desire for privacy may clash with the newspaper's goals. When the story is "local man fights to protect his identity on county website", they're going to want to identify that local man.
I hope you will take at least some of these actions, because if you are successful in your county, you strengthen the privacy rights of all of us.
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| 4129. |
Josh
Seattle, WA
Age: 35
Apr 25, 2008
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Re: Phil, #4128
I ran into a similar issue in Washington. The Department of Licensing required a Washington address upon initial vehicle registration. However, it was not meant to serve as proof of in-state residence of me or of the LLC. It was simply a requirement of their computer system--even though state law dictates that vehicles with no ties to the state must be registered if they remain in the state for an extended duration, the computer system nonetheless couldn't process a registration without a Washington address. So I gave them a Washington address where the car was known to be at some times. I also took care to make sure that my out-of-state ghost address was specified as the mailing address. Then, several months later, I used the DOL's Web site to update the physical address to match the ghost address (the software on the Web site is obviously newer than that used for processing new registrations). The vehicle now has no Washington address in its registration record.
I suggest you do something similar. Don't provide a name or show any personal ID when registering the vehicle. (If they resist, explain that you are simply a representative of the LLC and that the LLC does not want your name to be associated with the vehicle registration in any way. If they insist, tell them you left your ID outside, go home, then explain the situation to a friend and have him or her do the registration instead, the next day at a different office.) Tell them you are registering an out-of-state company's car. For the physical Oregon address they require, provide the address of a place where the car has been or will be on occasion (a local hotel, eatery, library, etc.). Make sure your ghost address is specified as the mailing address so registration materials can get to you. After a few months, either use the DMV's Web site or phone them to update the registration information to reflect only your out-of-state ghost address.
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| 4128. |
Phil
Eugene, OR
Age: 44
Apr 25, 2008
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Registration in Oregon
I've been hitting a road block in registering my
vehicles using an address from the Canary Islands or
Alaska. In OR, they require that you provide an
Oregon address proving residence for you or your LLC.
You can not use a P.O. Box or a forwarding service.
If it's not your real address, there could be a stiff
penalty. I think it's because of the lack of a state
sales tax in OR. I told them that although I or my
LLC have a PPB in a foreign state or country, the
vehicles would remain and be used in OR most of the
year. Didn't seem to matter. MUST have an Oregon
address. Have you or any of your Oregon readers encountered this? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
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You say they asked for an "Oregon address proving residence for you or your LLC." But what about those who merely live in Oregon at the present time but who are not Oregon residents?Perhaps a non-resident friend could check this out for you. (In some states, they will not even ask you for ID. They will merely hand you a form to sign, that states you are not a resident.) In fact, would you consider having a non-resident friend take over your LLC for a "period of time," long enough to get the plates?
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| 4127. |
Jeff
Nashville, TN
Apr 25, 2008
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SSN freely viewable online
Both my wife's and my SSN are freely viewable with no registration required on a county tax website, right under our signatures no less. They are on copies of a security deed for a mortgage we obtained years ago. The mortgage has long been satisfied, but the documents remain. Is there anything we can do about this?
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| 4126. |
James
Roseau, Minnesota
Age: 67
Apr 25, 2008
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Living off the grid ...
We recently bought a remote cabin. It is just beyond the range of a cell phone tower. Is there any sort of special aerial that might help?
Submitted Link #1: http://www.digitalantenna.com/prods/cellbooster_DA...
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The best source for questions about cell phone range often come from the boating magazines--especially news about satellite telephones.
... In your case, I found a cell phone booster in the May issue of SEA Magazine, page 48. (I inserted the URL in the link, below.)
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| 4125. |
Shannon
Hollywood, FL
Age: 26
Apr 25, 2008
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USB/SD Storage Key
I wanted to thank Marcus (#528) for his post about the Sandisk USB drive he wrote about quite awhile ago... I have a regular one but I also travel a lot and have the same problem (airport security). I just picked up a 2GB one off Amazon for under $30; the 1GB one he had is now $15. Highly recommended!
Submitted Link #1: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EWI8IK...
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| 4124. |
Bert
New York, NY
Age: 43
Apr 25, 2008
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internet sales tax
Did you know that many states require you to pay sales tax for sales over the internet that are not collected at the time of sale? Reporting a zero on your state tax return can trigger a state audit. Things should not be so complicated that you don't even know when you're doing something wrong. I now have to refile the past 5 years of tax returns. My question is this: How does all this privacy activity look to a tax auditor? It can make you life very complicated in this case. I am having second thoughts about all this now.
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Yours is the first information I've had about this problem. New York may be a tougher state than most. As you may imagine, I favor living in a state that does not have a state income tax, and where this complication is less likely to arise.
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