PSA

[sarea]

The LJ Crush Meme:

Hopefully those of you who have created accounts haven't used passwords you'd use anywhere else. I'm always suspicious of anything where I need to enter/create information like that, especially when there's really no reason for having to do it.

Maybe you've read their TOS and you're okay with it -- but for those of you who haven't yet done it but are considering it, make sure you know this:

LJmeme.com's proprietary rights

By submitting, posting or displaying any Materials on or through the LJmeme.com service, you automatically grant to us a worldwide, non-exclusive, sublicenseable, transferable, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right to copy, distribute, create derivative works of, publicly perform, display and or sell such Materials. By posting said information, including personal information, you grant us full ownership over it for any purpose. This is an object lesson. Don't give out information you don't want other people to see without reading the fine print.

Nice lesson. So for those of you who aren't like me and don't go looking for the fine print, there it is.

Comments

[adrith.livejournal.com]

I thought about it for a few hours before deciding to use a throwaway email and password. I hesitated for exactly the same reasons.

You see the password and email, and wonder "Why do they want this, exactly?"

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

I know. I am suspicious by nature. <g>

It's creepy that anyone would do anything like this if they have intentions of doing something malicious w/ the information they collect (which may not be the case), although I suppose if they're trying to prove a point, it's a good way of doing it.

I mean, I bet most of us who have LJs are generally Internet savvy (we don't believe in all the urban legends that circulate, or we know where to go to find out if something's a hoax or a scam or whatever), and yet we're not entirely invulnerable.

[fiannan.livejournal.com]

Darn, why am I so gullible all the time? I didn't even think before entering my usual password *slaps self*

Thanks for the warning, though. Shall keep it in mind next time.

Clever, wary Sarea :D

[gianfared.livejournal.com]

Odd, that little bit of info. My spidey senses were tingling when it asked for email and password, so I gave a password I've never used before. What do you think the purpose is of this - a power/superiority trip? People are strange...

[seldon.livejournal.com]

The innocent explanation would be that they are farming data so they can use it later... Maybe link many memes together using a single account. Plus, since they are handling sensitive information, having a password can give you some assurance that not everybody can see whatever info you filled in.

I don't think they intend to do anything harmful with it, really. Anyway, 5 out of 6 computer engineers agree: you should never use the same password twice =P

[gianfared.livejournal.com]

Very good to know - blasted data farmers. :D

Never use the same password twice, eh? Whoa - but I suffer from CRS (can't remember shit). I suppose I'll have to work on that. :P

Thanks for that enlightening information.

[seldon.livejournal.com]

One of the oldest tricks in the book to create good passwords is to use acronyms...

Pick a phrase you relate to a site you visit. For example, Livejournal. "LiveJournal is a free blogging site." Pick the first letter of each word and you have "ljiafbs". A password for your mail at the office? "My boss is a complete moron" -> "mbiacm". Mix a couple of random numbers or letters ("7ljiafbs8" or "mbiacmxxx") and you have a password that is very difficult to guess and easy to remember, and you can have one different for each site as long as you use different phrases.

Random verses from your favorite poems also work ;)

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Wow, that is such a cool idea. That's why you're da bomb.

*plans to create many, many strong passwords in future, just for fun*

Jade And Robbie Suck -- who knew that formed the easily remembered JARS?

And yes, I'm still online because I have to entertain myself at work somehow.

[gianfared.livejournal.com]

OMW! You are so clever! I think I love you. See, if I can remember CRS or OMW (oh my word - thanks to Sarea), I should be just fine with creating such passwords. *HUGS YOU* Thanks!!!

[annibug.livejournal.com]

Out of curiousity, I sent them an email asking for my information to be deleted from their list and/or database (I wasn't sure what to call it) and they just emailed me back saying they've taken me off.

Not sure what their intentions are, but if you're concerned you may want to do that.

[gianfared.livejournal.com]

Funny, I just finagled a way of deleting my stuff off of there, too. Thanks for thinking of me.

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

I don't think they intend to do anything harmful with it, really.

They probably don't. I just find it creepy that the whole "this is an object lesson" thing is in there at all. :p

OMG if I used a different password for everything I had to provide a password for, I'd never be able to get anywhere, ever. :))

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

I was concerned less about the passwords thing (as those can be changed) than I was about this: posting or displaying any Materials on or through the LJmeme.com service -- does that mean including all of the information on our LJs?

Like seldon said, I doubt they're going to do anything truly reprehensible, but still. I also hate that it's 'hidden.' Most people are okay with most things if they know about it, and go in with their eyes open, but places should be up front about things like this. Of course, that wasn't the point, if their snotty "this is why you should read the fine print" statement is any indication.

[seldon.livejournal.com]

Dude, why are you perpetuating on-line memes when you have visits in your house? There's so much fun to be had and a puzzle of doom to be completed. Log off and enjoy the company!

Besides you don't need to log in into any service, you already know that I have a crush on you anyway... :p

[ropo.livejournal.com]

Hee! That would be the case if poor Sarea wasn't AT WORK while we, the visitors, are in her house looking through her personal things. So there's no need for her to log off, 'cause she can't enjoy herself anyway until the workday's over. Poor poor Sarea. At least she has your love to keep her warm.

[hannah-kim.livejournal.com]

Sorry to be so completely off-topic, but I read and finished Boy Meets Girl the other day and LOVED it! So I guess I just wanted to thank you for your Meg Cabot-love!:D
I have such a flame for Kate/Mitch now, its just not right, its Noah/Allie all over again.

At the end I kind of wished I had read it before the drabble memes so I could have got you to write a K/M *g*

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Wheeeee! That makes me v. glad. :D You ought to give The Boy Next Door a try if you liked that one. It's in the same universe. (I even tried the ginger snaps recipe from BMG -- it was good!)