Recently a security company asked; "How will the internet influence traditional crime?"

Response: smarter break-ins.

Site like Facebook make us feel popular and secure, and we through out such age old advice as; " don't talk to strangers" - in fact we like talking with strangers and telling them what we do all day, when we're out - and more importantly - when we're NOT home.

After researching the standard profiles, galleries, tweets and calendars it becomes apparent that those with the mindset to do no good have more than enough information to do so.

Galleries: photos that seem innocent enough, shots of you in your kitchen baking a cake, living room drinking with friends, bedroom on the computer also provide shots of windows without sensors, doors with out bolt locks or a keypad and the location and arrangement of rooms in the apartment / house.

Add to the information posted to your galleries the statements about your work location, schedules and social events and there emerges a pattern for future thieves to pray on.

Is there any privacy?

How do we define privacy anymore? If it is simply define as " that which isn't public" then there really isn't much that private anymore. From the day your born a number is associated with you that goes everywhere you go, from the doctors office to the school system - to your library card in some cities. A database keeps up with your money, another with your credit, another with your education. Many things that ethically should be private and a matter of public record - and many of us are guilty of simply making them public because the platform we're sharing on feels private, like Facebooking friends.

Security and Privacy

It's in your best interest to keep some things private, but if you need to share be sure to know who your sharing with - or get an alarm system and security lights. There are more then cyber stalkers and child preditors online, as the economy continues to worsen it's very likely we've just seen the start of use of the internet and crime.