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Profile pictures or avatars?! Is it safe?

by Iffat Gill | September 14, 2010 at 5:44 AM

Iffat Gill

Tags:

Privacy

I would like to know if we should use our original pictures for the profiles according to the format of this program or are the members free to use any picture? I personally think that it is a nice thing to be able to see who I am getting in touch with, it gives a face to the name and since some of us might plan to become partners or plan to work on something together short-term, how safe is it to upload our actual pictures on this platform?

Best wishes,
Rose

Comments

Dear Rose,

If it is possible, we love to have your actual pictures up on your profiles! However, it is not required. You should be aware that anyone can look at your profile, so if you don't want someone accessing your actual picture for personal security issues or otherwise, please don't post it!

Kind regards,

Rachael

"In every human heart there are a few passions that last a lifetime. They're with us from the moment we're born, and nothing can dilute their intensity." Rob Brezny

Although African women historically are the builders of their homes, community and Nation, the image of African women is that of Victims of many ills, my work with Women Of Africa is to reshape the image of Africa women for Africa's reform. For this to happen, I am depending on lobbying world governments, the UN, the EU, the AU and members of the World community.
Gender transformation is the solution to addressing the many challenges that women face worldwide.
What sort of support should I expect from PulseWire membership?

Dear Alice,

This is a very good question. However, you did post it as a comment to Rose's post, instead of posting it as its own item in our group! I am going to re-post this in our group so that people can respond.

Kind regards,

Rachael

"In every human heart there are a few passions that last a lifetime. They're with us from the moment we're born, and nothing can dilute their intensity." Rob Brezny

How can my membership of Pulsewire assist me in raising the profile of African women for international recognition for Africa's reform?

Kindest Regards
Alice

I felt the same thing as Rose mentioned; though I have been involved in ICT (information communication technology) for about three decades. I felt if the person sincere, why not show the right picture?
However, watching and observing many evidence from the irresponsible persons who hijacked emails, put virus, brought cookies and tresspassing confidential information - I think we have to be aware of this ICT powerful with the dangerous positive and negative things come afterwards. Thus, the decision is yours; as freedom in life; if feeling Ok to show the real one do it; if not sure about the cyber environment don't do it.
Hopefully we have good and strong protection by this media pulsewire and Web 2.0; but better be careful.

I am thinking of my husband's analysis just recently: he is associate proffessor in computer science in university; many people loss during transaction with internet due to the information 'flies' away to third party.
Some of my friends need to announced that their emails have been hijacked after they gave the password to the 'faked' providers. Many people loss their money due to they believed transaction by the internet through emails while actually we are not sure who they are and even never seen the party asked for money.

In the gender world - this is sad news due to negative ICT impact; many girls were being cheated and raped by the 'friends' that they met in 'fb', 'twt', or any group of communication in the cyber.

How it works?
The entrance is sometime came from limited group who then forwarded the information to the third group.
I have noted several experiences that ICT may harm your life; fraud and lies were easily created for layman and only smart and carefull persons may have the way to avoid it. The ICT motto is: either you surved or you die!
Thus, it is suggested to be careful of any request from strangers to get to know you - we have to be sure that is safe!
I think it is suggested this communication within pulsewire is protected by the qualified system.

Some hints are (but not guarantee you are free from the negative impact):
- never open any email that you don't know where it came from (even if the sender used your own name); delete it at once. Some qualified providers have filtered those as spam; though sometimes not all emails in the spam are garbage.
- never release your secreet number/password that could be read by others nor even give it to the system unless it was not readable.
- never discussed any important transaction or numbers through cyber; put some codes that only between parties know the meaning.

Note:
I think the email feedback that re-writing your own password is not a good way of protection.
I have noticed somebody would like to break my password of a certain international membership due to the provider sent me email notification how many times I forgot and sending again my password to my email. Immediately, I analyzed where it came from and I certainly be happy un-subscribed from the millis-group. It is better loosing one group in the cyber instead of you loss your credential and life afterwards!
Again: you are free to choose.

Have a blessed day!

Dear Erna,

Thank you for your very informative and helpful post about the dangers of ICT. It is great that women who do have experience in this field can share it with everyone else.

Kind regards,

Rachael

"In every human heart there are a few passions that last a lifetime. They're with us from the moment we're born, and nothing can dilute their intensity." Rob Brezny

Dear Rachael,

Thanks for your appreciation and nice words; I take it as compliments.

When the first time ICT born in 19th century - it took quite a long time organizations changed their behaviour. However, ICT is truly powerful for supporting decision making process and online transactions had brought all the competitive advancements.
The fluctuation from labour association who afraid of human being pushed away by the machine seems diminished but not gone away. This ICT has 'conquered' the world communication and information ever and still expanding..
That's why women's empowerment with ICT is a must!

There is no light without dark stick on it - thus every thing good is not always good in delivery.
Like oil and gas for cooking when came to change and pushed away the wood from the kitchen. Scared and curious - we passed it any way! Thus women need to know the dangerous aspect/ the dark side of ICT because we have to get advantages from the powerful facilities but we have certainly learn how to control it properly and use it smartly.
Life is not always happy and sad; color is not always black and white - there is fuzzy areas.

I have a story how ICT supporting and build coping mechanism among family members.
Distance won't increase telephone calls any more for family during travelling due to 'sk' or 'gg chat' or any messangers with blackberry may put spouses, parents, childrens, partners, fiancee closer - just in a finger tip away! Pictures are supported to be transfered right away.

However, this blackberry with 'open emails' may bring also disaster and turmoil to family and relatives.
It is easy to send emails, sms or text using this without the knowledge of the owner.
The smart party might recognize the usual language thus checked and rechecked to confirm the news. it is sad but true sometimes people used to leave the cell phone or BB unattendedwhile sleeping or bathing.
Suggestion from the providers:
- put password and turn it off when you can not watch this personal ICT thing.
- change your password routinely within certain periodic time

For me, ICT was born into my blood already. I feel convenience with it and love it very much; but yes I am still a bit scared with it due to its fast growing while I am getting older and older..
Many learning material I got from internet; and my networks grow only by using internet and cyber space...
I heard and watched a lot - many stories from people, my brothers and sisters in poor through internet only...
Recently we are creating model in entrepreneurship for the poor and the communication evaluation is being supported by the internet only... How could you leave the advantages - just because of being afraid of the negative excess??
My choice: I prefer taking the risk with careful attitude and practices than being left behind. I believe God protects the good people and sincere one

Let's move on to reach the light and leave the dark behind..
Use smart tools and be smart as women with ICT!
May God bless and protect us!

Thanks for the briefing ES. This is the exact discussion that needs to be raised for the information sharing of the group. This is something not all of us know and we need to be careful in how we use the modern technology/Web 2.0. We all know the conditions and circumstances we work in and we could also be very well from suppressive regimes where airing of your opinion with your actual details may not be a very wise decision at that point in time. There has been incidences where tweets (tool of twitter) have been used against the people who tweet them and facebook account holders have been subject to interrogation or detention in places like USA, Iran, Egypt and China among many other places. In some cases, their accounts have been force to suspension. Depending on the sensitivity of the issue one works on, it is very important to take great care as to how much information you put about yourself on the inter-webs.
Peace!

Iffat Gill

Yes Rose I agree with you, ICT may empower women and girls but could also do it the other way around.
The naive women and girls are becoming targets for alcohol, drugs and tobacco industry. ICT made them being reached.

It is fact also that more women are contaminated by HIV/Aids; where for the first time in the 20th century is recognized as men's disease. In some countries in South East Asia the proportion is now becoming 5 female to 7 male; though the cause is not due to 'overwhelming' ICT but the 'lack of communication and information' to protect themselves.
The ICT has 'evil claws' to trap naive women and girls but has 'angel hands' to help them stronger; it is our duty to protect and empowered them.

Let's keep the voice up - not only empowering women with ICT but promoting Smart ICT women!

I am Computer Engineer and working as database officer currently. I found this discussion interesting and felt like participating.
Everything has both negative and positive aspect. Adding photo to profile is adding beauty to your profile. Since Information Technology has been one of the uprising necessities, its use and misuse has also taken vague form accordingly. Focusing on our main issue, there are much familiar software like photoshop which is an application mainly helps in editing picture, but in other way photoshop expert can tackle your photo on to undesired pose and circulated world wide, this has been one of mischievous act much practice today. Despite such risk, people enjoy uploading their photos on Facebook. So if you want to share your personal photo and information make sure there is authentication and strong security mechanism. Unless and until you are not dead sure of such thing, its better not to put any private documents on to any web page.

Be careful and be secure

Sajani

If you don't feel comfortable adding your personal picture, you can also upload an image that has meaning to you, or you feel represents you. For example, perhaps you draw inspiration from the sea. You could post a picture of the sea for your profile. Or because your name is Rose, you might consider posting a picture of a rose. It's nice to have an image that distinguishes your profile and your journals as uniquely you.

In the age of the Internet, you certainly want to be careful of your personal information. And as PulseWire is an open forum, anyone can view your image. So it's your personal choice.

Thank you for bringing up this important issue - as Internet security is something we are grappling with more and more as we become global citizens active in web 2.0.

In friendship and solidarity,
Jade