Internet questions??

[waynerd]

I'm sure I'm not alone it the fact that I can do alot on-line, but have no real idea how it works. Hopefully some of you can answer a couple of questions for me.

Long story short, my wife has to fire an IT type employee, for several reasons.

Anyway, a couple of nights ago, she Googled the person's name from MY computer, and found a personal web site. She went on and saw kid pictures, a kitchen remodel, etc. No big deal. Then I got to thinking....does this person that she's going to fire now have my address?? Therefore, can start spamming, sending spyware, etc. (keep in mind, I have Macs) as retaliation ? It's got me a little worried considering some of the other crap this person has pulled at work.

[whizmo]

Originally posted by waynerd
Then I got to thinking....does this person that she's going to fire now have my address?? Therefore, can start spamming, sending spyware, etc. (keep in mind, I have Macs) as retaliation ?

Address? If you're asking if using google to find a personal website and viewing that website on your computer has exposed any personal information on your computer (e.g., email address) to the owner of the website, the answer is no, unless you've got something very wrong on your computer. This assumes she didn't have to register or set up any sort of account to view the website.

If the person is very malicious, I'm sure they've got enough information to make your wife's online life difficult, but her company should stand behind her and protect her if they try anything.

I doubt either of you have anything to worry about. The key to firing anyone is to do it by the book, never make it personal, and have HR involved every step of the way. I'm sure your wife knows this.

- Mark

[krygny]

No. Just visiting his web site doesn't provide any info about who you are. It only provides an IP address (and some basic info about your client - browser, OS, etc.). And he can only find that if he knows how, his hosting company allows it and he can discern who is whom among all the IP addresses in the server log.

OTOH, he may be able to find info about you and your wife the same way you found info about him. Haven't you ever Googled yourself?

[sblvro]

try googling yourself and also zabasearch to find out where you live

[waynerd]

Thanks all. Makes me feel bit better. It might be easy to find out our address among those that visit if it's mostly relatives and friends that frequent the site?? I asked her if it was password protected and she said it wasn't.

Yes, I've googled my name, and came up with a distant relative that used to be at a university in New England a few years ago, and another that is an artist, neither with my exact name. Wifey has a "popular" name, with about 1000 + pages.