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+--- Thread: Security concerns about OSX login name = real first name last name? (/showthread.php?tid=232347)
Security concerns about OSX login name = real first name last name? - Forrest - 09-17-2019
Are there any security concerns about OSX login name = real first name real last name?
When web browsing to http or https web sites, is my OSX login name transmitted? Could this info be used to steal identity? What about older versions like OSX 10.6?
Advice appreciated.
Re: Security concerns about OSX login name = real first name last name? - deckeda - 09-17-2019
Browsers will share info about the browser and operating system (indirectly, i.e. Safari for Mac) but that’s about as far as it goes. The site will be sent something about your IP provider (general location, for giving you “relevant” ads).
But your user account info, nothing residing with your user account, should go out.
Re: Security concerns about OSX login name = real first name last name? - btfc - 09-17-2019
I always change the Mac's network name:
https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/find-your-computers-name-and-network-address-mchlp1177/mac
Re: Security concerns about OSX login name = real first name last name? - mattkime - 09-17-2019
>When web browsing to http or https web sites, is my OSX login name transmitted?
Nope.
That said, your intuition isn't far off. Look at Abine Blur for email forwarding with randomized email addresses. Often times information from different sources is aligned via email addresses.
Re: Security concerns about OSX login name = real first name last name? - jdc - 09-17-2019
Forrest wrote:
When web browsing to http or https web sites, is my OSX login name transmitted? Could this info be used to steal identity? What about older versions like OSX 10.6?
Thats actually no, no and no.
Re: Security concerns about OSX login name = real first name last name? - Forrest - 09-17-2019
All, thanks for the replies.
Re: Security concerns about OSX login name = real first name last name? - Sarcany - 09-18-2019
I wouldn't be surprised if there was a trick to get a browser to report the path back to its support files or plugin folder which might reveal a user's shortname (the name on their home folder) and that could (probably does) correspond to a real name much of the time.
Re: Security concerns about OSX login name = real first name last name? - decay - 09-18-2019
btfc wrote:
I always change the Mac's network name:
https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/find-your-computers-name-and-network-address-mchlp1177/mac
We support a client where the machine sharing name is used to enroll it into their management system, and bind to Active Directory.
if the name is changed, their Mac isn't very usable on the company network.