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'I want your Instagram account': a deadly campaign over coveted handles

businessinsider.com

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Re: 'I want your Instagram account': a deadly campaign over coveted handles

#141

Post by Akronymus »

dang wrote: post #77
fuckcensorship wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Out of curiosity, what's your policy in these situations?

We make them earn it. Here's a typical email I send in response to such requests: " We do sometimes recycle usernames when they're well and truly dormant, i.e. no logins for many years. But we only do this for established community members. What I usually tell people in situations like this is to create a new account and build up a track record of being a good community contributor, and that if they do that, they're…

What happens to the old messages of the reused handle at that point?

Re: 'I want your Instagram account': a deadly campaign over coveted handles

#142

Post by egypturnash »

tinus_hn wrote: post #101
egypturnash wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Discord does this and it's really annoying . Especially if your usual handle is actually sufficiently unique that you've never had a name collision on any site, ever. It's almost as annoying as trying to remember anyone's ICQ number. "Easy" solution: all account names must be at least ten characters long, single dictionary words and common first names are illegal. Make everyone spend some time picking a Good Handle.

As long as you can login using your email address you don’t need to remember it. Never mind that I don’t even know the number on my account nor the password, that’s what password managers are for.

Login is not the problem, sharing your contact info off the top of your head is.

Re: 'I want your Instagram account': a deadly campaign over coveted handles

#144

Post by nathanaldensr »

sph wrote: post #108
Lio wrote: post #104

It's only a very small part of this but I have to wonder why "cash on delivery" is a thing. As far as I'm aware that's very usual in my country. We have no shortage of delivery services but they all need to be paid up front with a credit card. It's like the US food industry has made itself a willing part of the harassment industry. The only reason I can think of for them to really want to offer this service is as a t…

Americans love their cash money. They say it's part of their freedom or something, but I'm not that convinced.

Your comment makes absolutely no sense.

Re: 'I want your Instagram account': a deadly campaign over coveted handles

#145

Post by prvit »

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #11

The common thread among most stories like this is the spoof-ability of phone numbers. Telecom companies must make changes to prevent this kind of spoofing. Honestly, I think if telecom companies could be sued for damages caused by this kind of thing (not to mention spam) then I think the problem would get solved very quickly. The only reason it hasn't been solved yet is most of the cost and pain is borne by others.

It’s really not. SWATting has nothing to do with spoofing numbers. You can call from google voice or skype and the cops will take it just as seriously.

Re: 'I want your Instagram account': a deadly campaign over coveted handles

#146

Post by bee_rider »

Akronymus wrote: post #111
bee_rider wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Make the number random and exclude numbers under 1000, numbers with special meanings (1337, etc).

> Make the number random and exclude numbers under 1000 So, now 1001 is highly coveted, so lets exclude that as well. Oh, now 1002 is the lowest, lets exclude it as well. And so on.

You don't have to tell people what the lowest number is, and most people won't care if it is something random like 1072.

Re: 'I want your Instagram account': a deadly campaign over coveted handles

#147

Post by prvit »

muststopmyths wrote: post #12
vorpalhex wrote: post #5

I can't imagine these people are that untraceable. If they are dumb enough to reach out to the victims, finding them should be doable with a bit of luck.

I think one of the issues is spoofing numbers is still not prevented by the miserable US telecoms. That allows these people to spoof calls and swat the target, worst case.

Spoofing calls has literally nothing to do with swatting. The cops do not care which number the call comes from.

Re: 'I want your Instagram account': a deadly campaign over coveted handles

#149

Post by TheNewsIsHere »

hx2a wrote: post #26
sys_64738 wrote: post #9

I remember getting a demand I surrender my HoTMaiL address to somebody in a very threatening email to my address way back in 1998. It was kind of surreal back then as the internet was still fresh. Nowadays the closest I've gotten to this is the people who keep using my Gmail address as their own email address. I find this behavior rather bizarre and don't know what it achieves.

> Nowadays the closest I've gotten to this is the people who keep using my Gmail address as their own email address. I find this behavior rather bizarre and don't know what it achieves. I have this problem also! I thought it was rare. In my case I think the person is very bad with computers and doesn't know what their email address is. I've gotten emails from their bank, cell phone, and even online dating. I tried ma…

I have the same problem. Mostly for an old MobileMe/iCloud alias, but also for an entire domain that I own. Someone keeps signing up for Instagram accounts in another language.

My every day email is my name@myname.com, and I’ve had to purchase several typo domains and alias them.

Re: 'I want your Instagram account': a deadly campaign over coveted handles

#150

Post by thatguy0900 »

sph wrote: post #108
Lio wrote: post #104

It's only a very small part of this but I have to wonder why "cash on delivery" is a thing. As far as I'm aware that's very usual in my country. We have no shortage of delivery services but they all need to be paid up front with a credit card. It's like the US food industry has made itself a willing part of the harassment industry. The only reason I can think of for them to really want to offer this service is as a t…

Americans love their cash money. They say it's part of their freedom or something, but I'm not that convinced.

You don't see the utility or freedom of a way to spend money that that governments and corporations can't track and store indefintely? Look no further than the current abortion issue here. The government knows everyone who got an abortion in the past and paid by a credit card. Not by cash though.
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