cavok wrote:Unfortunately NSW appears to be where most firearms are stolen, and the figure has been growing, that is the worry. Only thing I can't work out is how our addresses and certain types of firearms are identified for theft, will not believe random selection.

You only need two or three bits of info and you can track virtually anyone on the internet. I've seen it so often when people use say for instance photobucket and register their user name as their real name or do dealings through facebook, as I am a registered business I subscribe to creditwatch and there have been a few people I have decided to not trade with simply based on their credit rating and the amount of ABN's they have(sure some have legitimate reasons for multiple ABN's and variations on their names and initials but why would I take a chance on someone with two bankruptcies seven ABN's and four variations on their name?). I have avoided quite a few bad debts by a bit of simple research.
A phone number will usually yield an address due to the availability of reverse directory, which gives you a last name and you usually know their first name and it all goes downhill from there. It is amazing the amount of idiots who post that they shot at such and such gunclub using such and such and even post photos. If you have ever bought or sold a house your name and address are there for all who know what to look for to see. I don't do it very often as it is a bit creepy and I don't really want to know the details.
I have noticed a trend in shooting journals to only list the first name and initial, this is not a bad idea but there is already so much data out there that pops up when googled.
Protect yourself:
Use a GMail email with no connection to your real name
NEVER use your real name on the internet
Never give anyone your real date of birth
Never use a photo uploader with our real name
Never use the landline to call someone you don't know
Those free prize draws in shopping centers- many are data gatherers
Don't allow your name to be published in the local paper shooting results
Be aware that URL's are available to websites, have a cutout if you doubt someones validity.
Sorry to sound paranoid but I have a mate who once demonstrated how easy it was to legally track people on the internet, especially now most newspapers have online versions.
You know I joined GETUP just to get some warning about their campaigns, as Christine Milne (not the name I used but similar) I am still getting notices sent to the Gmail account in her name.
Internet security probably deserves a seperate thread.
Just remember- "Just because you are paranoid that doesn't automatically mean that you are not being followed"