It’s Mother’s Day and a lot of genealogy bloggers are doing tributes to their mothers, grandmothers and other female ancestors on their blogs. Just be careful and think about the information you are putting out there for others to find and, unfortunately, potentially use against you.
Your mother’s maiden name is one of the most commonly asked security questions when you fill out an online profile that requires a password. Have you used this option in the past? Maybe think twice before putting your mother’s and even your grandmother’s maiden name out there.
Dick Eastman has written on this issue before and suggested that you not use this information when signing up for online profiles. All good and well, but if you *have* used this information in the past, be sure to protect yourself and not make such information too easily available in the public sphere.
For more information on protecting your personal identity, read up at the FTC web site. The Washington Post has some good resources and advice too.
Bayside Blog 
I don’t think you are a wet blanket, just practical and good advice. I blurred some names on the scrapbook page I posted today.
It’s a good point. I really think it’s past time for the whole “mother’s maiden name” security answer to be consigned to oblivion.
AMEN. Glad I’m not the only wet blanket.
This and the one where you give out your pet’s name by calculating your royal wedding name, porn star name, clown name, etc…ugh. It makes me crazy.
Ohmigosh, I didn’t even think of that one, Kerry! I have to admit, I couldn’t resist filling one of those royal wedding name things out a couple of weeks ago. Gah! It was a childhood street that they asked for. I can’t believe I was that dumb. Lesson learned!