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It was a useful tool. Still would be. Online searches for people are hard now. But note, those were limited databases. Phone number and address. No birth dates,
by pomian 5y ago
It was a useful tool. Still would be. Online searches for people are hard now.
But note, those were limited databases. Phone number and address. No birth dates, security numbers, etc.
It was a tool, not a weapon.
- foobarian 5y agoWe still have a much different attitude toward that kind of data today. If some company leaked all its customers' names, addresses and phone numbers it would be considered a terrible scandal. In the 80s you would be upset if the phone company didn't print out that same data and give it to every customer for free.
- ghaff 5y agoOn the other hand, there was a huge outcry at the time over Lotus Marketplace https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Marketplace https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Marketplace That sort of information is regularly bought and sold today. A breach that's just names, addresses, and phone numbers will draw a few headlines, some comments on HN, and a bunch of scolding tweets. But I don't imagine most people see that as particularly sensitive information in most circumstances. (Some exceptions of course such as the fact that you're in a particular database is itself sensitive.)
- mixmastamyk 5y agoThe recent tmobile breach? A database feeds more evil than a printed book could, even if scanning/ocr it were feasible.