Should one give websites fake details?

[BrilloPad]

BBC News - Give social networks fake details, advises Whitehall web security official

people should only give accurate details to trusted sites such as government ones.

[d000hg]

I find this one tricky, morally. It may only be an internet form, but it's still lying and it makes me uncomfortable. I won't say I never do it, but I don't like it.

[Mich the Tester]

BBC News - Give social networks fake details, advises Whitehall web security official

people should only give accurate details to trusted sites such as government ones.

indeed;

"When you are interacting with government, or professional organisations - people who you know are going to protect your information - then obviously you are going to use the right stuff.

[SimonMac]

indeed;

Are they saying then that the government is NOT a professional organisation then?

[VectraMan]

When I first signed up to Ebay I put my phone number in as 123456789. Which of course they identified as me trying to commit some terrible fraud, rather than not wanting to give EBay my phone number, and I had to jump through lots of hoops to get my account activated.

[OwlHoot]

BBC News - Give social networks fake details, advises Whitehall web security official

people should only give accurate details to trusted sites such as government ones.

Been doing that for years, with any info not absolutely necessary for delivery.

For example, when downloading white papers from tech sites they only need my email. Other than that they get only Mickey Mouse data.

[Gentile]

BBC News - Give social networks fake details, advises Whitehall web security official

people should only give accurate details to trusted sites such as government ones.

In a similar vein, wasn't there also a thing a while ago whereby letters from 10 downing Street were signed from completely fictitious members of staff when responding on David Cameron's behalf to letters sent from members of the public? It came to light when an opposition MP wrote a letter to the PM and received such a reply that couldn't be traced to a real member of staff.

[SimonMac]

I wonder how many facebook pages will be created in the name of Andy Smith after this

[BrilloPad]

In a similar vein, wasn't there also a thing a while ago whereby letters from 10 downing Street were signed from completely fictitious members of staff when responding on David Cameron's behalf to letters sent from members of the public? It came to light when an opposition MP wrote a letter to the PM and received such a reply that couldn't be traced to a real member of staff.

Maybe they watched house of cards where Matty tracks down the PM's dirt secret by interviewing the statistician. To shut her up he has sex with her and insists she call him Daddy!

[Zippy]

BBC News - Give social networks fake details, advises Whitehall web security official

people should only give accurate details to trusted sites such as government ones.

Only 10 years behind the curve. Well done to our political overlords!