How to Anonymize Yourself Online? – Reputation Management

Pre P.S: I sincerely hope dad does not read the second paragraph!

Does Anonymous You Online sound like an oxymoron??!? Well, its a rule that anyone getting online is not anonymous. For example a search for me renders around 9000 results online. That’s quite a lot about me online for everyone to see and read about and know me better worse. I am sure reverse engineering me can let someone know more about me than I do! This is something very related to the concept of “Reputation Management“.

I recently met a nice sweet girl from a college in my place. She was smart, very active, speaks impeccable English, can sew and even bake a cake! Who can do all that these days!?!? Unfortunately, I guess I was giving her the wrong ideas and she ended up thinking that I was hitting on her! (which I honestly was not trying!) and she is now on a “ignore” mode with me! Ah well, guess the unconference attitude does not go well with everyone ๐Ÿ™‚

But being the geek nerd tech junkie that I am, I search for her on google and guess what I end up finding? I see her full home address and her university results! Now, I would not bother doing anything with this information, but if it ends up with some jobless stalker, you can imagine the hell she would have to go through!!

reputation-management

So, what exactly can you do about this?

Search for your name on google today, check up on what results it brings up and if something which makes you uncomfortable shows up….you got some serious work to do!!

First signup for the major social networks that display your profile to the search engines. The first choices would be

  • Twitter – See this a “Let the world know what are you upto now” status updates like that on Orkut/Facebook
  • BlogSpot – Blogging! In case you have no idea what blogging is, just create a new empty blog. That will do.
  • LinkedIn – A professional social network, will help you in the future, if you are still in college
  • Last.FM – Music service! Social music and discover new types of music easy.
  • Flickr – The photo sharing site from Yahoo!
  • StumbleUpon – Something to seriously consider if you spent a lot of time online and have nothing to do. Works with a toolbar with two options – I like, I don’t like. Great time killer!
  • Facebook – The busy social network where “just keep in touch” takes a back seat

Signup to these sites and get all the unwanted information off from the first page of Google. But hey, am I not tell you more ways to be seen online?

Yes I am, but it makes sense to show off an empty blog, or a music profile than let people see that drunken dance video you took a few years back at your friends party, Doesn’t it?!?!? Ponder away! So, what does a search on you reveal?

Does this make sense to you? Please share your views!!!


Comments

12 responses to “How to Anonymize Yourself Online? – Reputation Management”

  1. I never thought of this before. Anyways Im on the safe side. Try searching “Kenney Jacob”

  2. hehe… u shared a crezzy thing… i was amazed.. n now first thing m gonna do after making this reply is to search myself on google.. then doing things u suggested about, half of which.. i have already done…

    and about that gal… don’t u feel sorry at all… thats ma reaquest.. coz this is the problem with all of us- the tech junkies…
    we understand GUI better than expresions n n bugs of computers better than feelings of a human…

    enjoy ur lyf.. don’t look back!!

    1. LOL, I am not that hardcore a techie as you Rohit!

      I very much have a decent social life!!!!! I just wanted to let everyone know about this so that tomorrow your prospective employer does not find out that you had a very naughty school life ๐Ÿ˜‰

  3. just wondering how to google myself better…
    and you should add sharenow.com on that list you have!
    Thanks ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. I’m on the safe side too…
    Only the first four entries are entries with my name on it.. The rest are other Jithins…
    Have to thank MAD people for fixing me up with a pen name..
    No prospective employer is gonna discover anything that I wrote..
    ๐Ÿ˜€

  5. Hello Anand,

    This is a impressive post, I am also from Cochin. I really appreciate your gentlemaness in dealing with the girl…but unfortunatly not all girls recognize it.:) Hope you find someone who does…..

    And about online reputation management.there are companies online that charge millions of dollars for the info you presented here!!!!

  6. I had similar experience, well i too in a safe side i think. Galz should do something about it…

  7. I think displaying information online is a double edged sword. It might help you or act against you. To use it for your benefit is up to you. Key in information that you want people to read and not what you wouldn’t want known ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. hi anand

    nice tip. i see u r 1 short of ur life’s philosophy.

    very useful tip. mayb i shud consider following ur advice. but luckily i havent been upto mischiefs using my real name YET

  9. @ Joseph, nice to see another kochiite ๐Ÿ™‚ thanks for dropping by.

    @ Niju….mischief? ๐Ÿ™‚

    @ Narayanan, exactly! you summed it up right…its about letting people read what you want them to read. ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. Yet another reason to be a freelancer. ๐Ÿ˜€

    Some time back., I had written about exposing online :

  11. hi anand
    ur good response

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