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Computer Law/Yahoo answers

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Expert: - 7/13/2011


Question
Chris
I am in Canada.I hope you may be able to give me some guidance about this issue. I recently googled my name, only to see it appear on several web pages of Yahoo answers. Apparently someone posing as me used my actual first and last name. I have a idea who the person(s) may be, one is my estranged wife who knows personal information about myself.
These questions/answers are embarassing, and anyone, including a prospective employer, would get the wrong impression about me when googling my name.
Since these internet companies require no documentation, anyone can pose as anyone else.
I have contacted Yahoo and at first they required I start up an account, which I refused, now they want me to contact the account owner myself to have them talk to yahoo.
This is ludicrous, they are taking no responsibility.
Do you know of some way I can get them to remove these pages, apart from legal action?
I have a pretty unique name, and am willing to give them my social security nuber and or other personal information. I have not heard back from them in a few days I think they are hoping I will go away.
Thanks for any advice!

Answer
Hi Bud,

Welcome to the world of internet "lack of privacy and common sense." There are actual businesses that have come about because of just the type of thing your talking about. The only ways to get these types of things removed are through legal action or being a pest and threatening legal action if they don't help you.

One thing you can do is go here: http://www.squidoo.com/personalInformation

And read about this issue and you may spot something that would help you. And if its important enough for you, there is a service about 3/4 of the way down the page called RD that will help you for a fee. No I am not associated with them nor do I get anything from them. I just know they work and are there.

Sorry its not an easy fix. The kicker is this also, even if you get the information removed it will forever be somewhere on the net as there are places that store the pages on the net for future reference. While they don't come up in common searches, they copy the net and store it.

But good luck and I hope you come to some resolution.

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Chris Wagoner

Expertise

I can answer questions concerning Computer Crime Investigations and Internet investigations including Computer Crime Laws both at the State level and Federal level. I can answer questions on almost any crime in which a computer is used. In addition I can answer questions concerning copywrite infringement (peer to peer, and copying). I served as a police Commander and conducted and still conduct Computer Crime Investigations at the Local, State and Federal level. I have investigated all most any kind of crime with which or which involved a computer and the internet, from murders, kidnappings, extortion, drug dealing and more. I can answer questions concerning Computer Forensics (the art of recovering information from a suspects computer), Computer Crime Investigations and Internet Investigations. I am a Federally Court Recognized Expert in Computer Crime and Computer Forensics. I have worked in both Facebook and MySPace, also in Peer to Peer investigations. In addition I can answer questions concerning child predators and how to make your children safer on-line. I teach Computer Forensics, Internet Investigations, Peer to Peer Investigations and other computer crime related subjects for several colleges and the Institute of Police Technology and Management. My hobby webpage - Military Videos - http://www.youtube.com/user/3rdID8487

Experience

I conduct computer crime investigations in conjunction with the F.B.I., Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Gainesville Police Department, and University of Florida Police Department, Levi County Sheriff’s Office, Starke Police Department and other agencies in the North Florida Court District. I provide the forensic data recovery services for those agencies as well as internet tracing and information gathering. I am a Federal Court Certified Expert in Computer Crime Investigations and Forensics. I teach Computer Forensics for the University of North Florida, Institute of Police Technology and Management. I also teach Computer Crime courses for Tallahassee Community College, Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Training Center. Associate Instructor; teach Computer Crime courses thorough out the world for IPTM. Presently Teach Cyber Crime Investigations, Computer Crime Investigations and Computer Forensic Data Recovery Course.

Education/Credentials
2 Degrees in Criminal Justice, now teach college level Data Forensics classes

Awards and Honors
Awarded the FBI Directors Award for assisting the FBI in a National Computer Crime Investigation. Awarded Dec 2002

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