AOL Releases User Search data for "Research"

[Dave I]

The wonderful folks at AOL have released the search data for 657,426 Users over a 3 month period. It was supposed to be for researchers only, however it was made public. To protect users privacy they have replaced user id's with number ID that should make the user anonymous. However at least one person has been identified.

AOL has removed the data and issued an apology, which I can't find right now, and stated no personal data has been exposed. However, the data has already been mirrored. Warning, if you download it extracts to over 2GB of text. Also, contrary to their claims, searching through the data will reveal names, addresses, credit card numbers, SS#, etc.

Nothing you do on the internet is private!

Now here is where the fun begins. Someone loaded all the data into a DB and made a searchable webpage (NSFW Warning. Search results can contain censored/dirty words.). Some of the results range from humorous to downright disturbing and depressing. Remember these are the search terms these specific users used on AOL's search, which is powered by Google BTW.

Here my submission for AOL psycho of the day.

NSFW Warning. Search results contain censored/dirty words.

http://www.aolstalker.com/user.php?uid=1879967

[guids]

On a related note, I set up a google adsense page, with names fo my family, my name, my personal info, so everytime someonme searches google for my name (background checks etc), I willl know about it.

[[Phill]]

Wow:
http://www.aolstalker.com/user.php?uid=336865

User 336965 searches for just about every variation of kiddie porn and also tamagotchi, sims 2 cheats, yu go hi and other child games.

Like i found this guy in 2 mins just for the crack, wtf?

Do people like this get tracked down?

[bisonbison]

This is a lawsuit waiting to happen.

[Scary_Tiger]

[ QUOTE ]
On a related note, I set up a google adsense page, with names fo my family, my name, my personal info, so everytime someonme searches google for my name (background checks etc), I willl know about it.

[/ QUOTE ]

How does this work?

[Dave I]

[ QUOTE ]

Do people like this get tracked down?

[/ QUOTE ]


They should but how? Is it illegal to search for this stuff? I mean you know what they are doing but wouldn't authorities have to get warrants to search the whole computer.



Some of these just tell a story:

5342598 signed off the deed now wants my house 2006-03-20 23:42:39
5342598 legal advice about homes 2006-03-20 23:44:29 0
5342598 fraud by a car dealer 2006-03-21 00:03:53 5
5342598 he hasnt paid on the house in 9 years and now wants half
5342598 my computer keeps restarting 2006-03-26 16:37:48 3
5342598 he moved out 9 years ago now he wants my house 2006-03-27 00:32:40
...
5342598 unsolved murders in san jose 2006-03-27 23:56:18 0
5342598 tara found dead in car 2006-03-28 00:00:14 0
...
5342598 psychological test given to prisoners 2006-03-31 20:50:53
5342598 test to see if you are a serial killer 2006-03-31 20:51:38
...
5342598 my ex is taking me to court for half my house he signed a quit claim 2006-04-12 01:58:22 0
5342598 good fpr nothing ex wnats my house 2006-04-12 02:01:34
5342598 he has not paid anything on the house in ten years 2006-04-12
...
5342598 how to file a rsponse to a summons 2006-04-14 02:01:32 0
...
5342598 i hid the real father of my adult child now i want to conceal it
5342598 estblishing paternity on a child that is now an adult

And she wonders why he won't pay!

[guids]

Open up a google adwords account and register all names youa re interested in tracking, you have to create some sort of ad that will appear when your target name is searched for, make sure it is an add no one will want to click on. then track everything through the control panel, it costs a few bucks but not much.

[JasonK]

Sweet, maybe I can use this to find the douchebag that stole my CC and signed up for multiple AOL accounts.

[KOTLP]

Thankfully Google refused to release their search logs when the US Justice Dept requested. It's kinda scary how much Google knows about you, especially if you also have a gmail account.