Every so often I get one of these emails in my inbox. Today’s example:
Hello!
I have decided to join the ranks of half the people I know, and switch to
Gmail.
Therefore, effective immediately, please start emailing me at *xxxxxxx@gmail.com*.
I’ll keep receiving verizon.net emails for another month.
I hope you’re all well and that you have a lovely day!
Nothing unusual? Except the person did a “send to everyone on my address box”
mass mailing. I got it only because I am on an email list that this person also belongs to.
So, now I have the name and address of everyone in his address book. A
quick glance gets me these information:
- political affiliation — a presidential campaign list email
- closer friends’ name and emails — people who appear multiple times with personal and work emails
- social affilations — other social email lists
- interest or profession — noticed several emails from people in a specific industry
- possible a parent — small number of emails from a school (if large number, he may work there)
- personal style — subscription to specific stores’ emails
Not a mistake that one should be making !
Your homework — look at your own address book and see how much “personal” information is in there if someone gets hold of just the list of names and emails.