talkmagic.co.uk

Thanks, I thought I would give it a go, although listing mentalism in interests possible excludes me from reaching successive rounds of consideration.

Does anyone else find it amazing that people will give this information freely to a complete stranger, but don't want the government knowing it?

Realistically the amount of information known about me by various institutions as a "requirement" of doing business with them precludes any concerns I have about data sharing.

I know my rights under the DPA and realistically that is my only defence against misuse of data but working in a bank dispelled any illusion of perceived privacy a long time ago.

Tomo wrote:Does anyone else find it amazing that people will give this information freely to a complete stranger, but don't want the government knowing it?

If we're talking about ID cards then I suppose the difference is that these strangers are asking and it's voluntary whereas the Government seemed to demand, apply a hefty fee (aka anogher Tax) and there was to be no alternative despite a lot of arguments showing how there were plenty of existing methods of ID in existence already.

Loved an interview with one of the early uptakers of the National ID bemoaning the fact that the scheme had been scrapped.

He said that getting the ID card spurred him on to changing his bank account, something he'd always dreaded before.

The interviewer asked him how simple the process was with the ID card.

He said it was very simple - all he needed was the ID card and a proof of address...

I sense heated passions (The name's Troi, Tomo Troi!). What I meant was, no one will check whether this is real or not because it has Derren's name attached. People won't question the sheer amount of information he apparently wants from them and won't bother about what it may be used for, how it'll be disposed of or whether it's even his people. It's Derren! Wheeeeee! Access to Derren!!!! Excitin'

The vulnerability is that if a social engineer comes up to you in the street and tells you that Derren is due to shoot some stuff there tomorrow and can you fill out this form to be part of it, the thrill of potential access would be the same for most people, but Chummy could instead be accessing your life in a matter of moments. He'll also know when you're out tomorrow to rob you.

Except that it IS on Derren's official site (I checked) and it's been tweeted by his officially verified twitter account. Of course this is no guarantee of safety, but the social engineer should be a damn good cracker to put on all this. And then probably could get the data anyway in some other simpler ways...

If anyone approaches me in the street with a clip board or stops me on the way out of Tesco with a questionnaire always refuse, politely but firmly, as it's quite usual for such information to be used later for cold calling/spamming purposes.

Jon's point is very valid, just because it's apparently coming from Derren's organisation it seems to get past our usual instinctive safeguards. Perhaps it's just that we've taken a subconscious decision to trust this approach whereas we wouldn't allow such leniency to a random street researcher?

MiKo wrote:Except that it IS on Derren's official site (I checked) and it's been tweeted by his officially verified twitter account. Of course this is no guarantee of safety, but the social engineer should be a damn good cracker to put on all this. And then probably could get the data anyway in some other simpler ways...

Well, a social engineer just has to flash a fake laminate and give you the form to fill out in the street!

Tomo wrote:

MiKo wrote:Except that it IS on Derren's official site (I checked) and it's been tweeted by his officially verified twitter account. Of course this is no guarantee of safety, but the social engineer should be a damn good cracker to put on all this. And then probably could get the data anyway in some other simpler ways...

Well, a social engineer just has to flash a fake laminate and give you the form to fill out in the street!

Which is exactly my point: apart from the fact that I didn't fill the form, if a random guy on the street approached me with whatever badge I would not fill the form (possibly because I was raised in a place which made me very suspicious of all strangers approaching in the street), but if Derren tweets the address of the form, then I somewhat feel more secure. And I don't think I'm wrong to feel that way...

I reckon this form is so he can identify you at one of his shows and amaze you with his mind reading powers.

I wonder what the 'new tv project' is all about ?
stolen identities ?
Trusting people with your personal info ?

Discombobulator wrote:I wonder what the 'new tv project' is all about ?
stolen identities ?
Trusting people with your personal info ?

Maybe he is going to do to identity theft what Jamie Oliver tried to do to School meals..or eating cheap chickens.

Why is it everyone knows their rights with regards to the data protection act except safestyle windows?