QUESTION: Why do websites ask for your street address?

-aegis- · 06-11-2006, 09:28 AM

Sorry if this is the wrong section for this...I couldn't figure out where else to ask since this isn't really a tech question.

Even when you are registering for free, many websites require you to enter your name, date of birth, country, state/province, and even your city and zip/postal code. My question is, why do they need such specifics? It makes sense when it's a commerical site where you buy or sell stuff, but for almost everything else I don't see why they would need this information unless they plan to send you unwanted spam or maybe even for more sinister purposes. And even if their motives aren't bad, I don't trust that these sites won't get hacked and this info gets stolen.

It doesn't really matter, since I almost always enter false info, but I just thought I'd ask.

Thoughts?

**Fox** · 06-11-2006, 10:11 AM

I would be really cautious with sites like these. Some are safe if they're legit and you specifically opt out of their advertisements. Some are not. Just use your gut instinct and if you get any weird feelings just don't bother with it.

dai · 06-11-2006, 01:49 PM

the only time i would give my street addy is when i am buying and they will not deliver to a po box

**Deckard** · 06-11-2006, 09:03 PM

Does anyone actually fill these out truthfully?

Unless I'm receiving a service (software or physical good), I never use my real name and I never give my demographic information. As far as most companies know, I was born on January 1st, 1900 and live on N/A, Oregon, 90210. You'd be surprised how many websites don't even bother to check to see if the zip matches the state. This isn't always the case, but more times than not I lie. Who's gonna know?

Oh, and if you're looking for a throwaway email address, I recommend mailinator, although I have my own dedicated spam address that I usually give out (thanks Yahoo!).

**Fox** · 06-11-2006, 09:27 PM

Oh yeah, I was Bob Miller for the longest time when I used to be extremely paranoid about that.

**DumberDrummer** · 06-11-2006, 11:02 PM

I honestly don't care anymore... people get all paranoid about information and the internet.... "THEY CAN TRACK YOU DOWN AND RAPE YOU IN DARK ALLEYS!"

I figure if anyone was going to stalk someone, it would be a helluva lot easier to do it to someone in your own community.... look at their mail to see their name and address, and follow them to school, etc... why go through all the trouble of using the internet and trying to weasel information out of kids online?

That's why my name and address are freely available to all.... all you have to do is come into salem and look at a yellowpages strapped to any phone booth and you have my address...

**Deckard** · 06-11-2006, 11:11 PM

It's not paranoia that keeps me from giving websites my name and information. They have to earn the right to get it from me, and most of the time they're just asking to be asking. Besides, I bet a lot of them turn around and sell any information they gather to someone else for money, just like they do in meatspace.

I honestly can't think of a reason why I'd want more targeted junk mail, electronic or otherwise.

bry623 · 06-12-2006, 07:40 AM

When I get junk mail, I cut it up into small pieces and then shred some newspaper and stuff as much of it as I can back into their prepaid envelope. They have to pay by weight. Capitol One sends me nothing now!

95five-0 · 06-12-2006, 07:42 AM

I can not stand any one asking for my informatin with out giving me an explination first. Does matter if it is on the internet or at a store. Every time I go some where that asks for my phone number I give a fake one. The funny thing is since I have started doing this I don't get any telemarketer calls. And I always live at 123 Main St. Anytown, USA.

**Deckard** · 06-12-2006, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bry623

When I get junk mail, I cut it up into small pieces and then shred some newspaper and stuff as much of it as I can back into their prepaid envelope. They have to pay by weight. Capitol One sends me nothing now!

Heh. I used to do this, too, when I had more time. I'd actually switch stuff around, so they never actually got their stuff back.

**Terrister** · 06-15-2006, 06:28 AM

So I am not the only one that says he was born 1-1-1900. I have only had one web site tell me I was to old to be there.
My fav for email addresses include- me@work.now and me@home.now
Only timer that does not work I give them one of my junkmail hotmail accounts. They can spam that one all they want.
For phone #'s I use 555-555-1212 most of the time.
Like others, I make up a postal address unless I really think I need something sent to me from them.

I think if more people would do this, they would back off all the data mining.

06-11-2006, 09:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
-aegis- Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 4 OS: XP	QUESTION: Why do websites ask for your street address? Sorry if this is the wrong section for this...I couldn't figure out where else to ask since this isn't really a tech question. Even when you are registering for free, many websites require you to enter your name, date of birth, country, state/province, and even your city and zip/postal code. My question is, why do they need such specifics? It makes sense when it's a commerical site where you buy or sell stuff, but for almost everything else I don't see why they would need this information unless they plan to send you unwanted spam or maybe even for more sinister purposes. And even if their motives aren't bad, I don't trust that these sites won't get hacked and this info gets stolen. It doesn't really matter, since I almost always enter false info, but I just thought I'd ask. Thoughts? Last edited by -aegis-; 06-11-2006 at 09:31 AM.

06-11-2006, 10:11 AM	#2 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	I would be really cautious with sites like these. Some are safe if they're legit and you specifically opt out of their advertisements. Some are not. Just use your gut instinct and if you get any weird feelings just don't bother with it. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

06-11-2006, 01:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,646 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	the only time i would give my street addy is when i am buying and they will not deliver to a po box __________________

06-11-2006, 09:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
Deckard Mentor, Analyst - Security Team Join Date: May 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,503 OS: MacOS X, Debian, OpenBSD, Windows	Does anyone actually fill these out truthfully? Unless I'm receiving a service (software or physical good), I never use my real name and I never give my demographic information. As far as most companies know, I was born on January 1st, 1900 and live on N/A, Oregon, 90210. You'd be surprised how many websites don't even bother to check to see if the zip matches the state. This isn't always the case, but more times than not I lie. Who's gonna know? Oh, and if you're looking for a throwaway email address, I recommend mailinator, although I have my own dedicated spam address that I usually give out (thanks Yahoo!). __________________ The chance to begin again in a golden land of opportunity and adventure. Need HijackThis help? Please read MicroBell's Five Step Process before posting. Please donate and help keep this site free to all. UNITE/ASAP: Proud member since 2006

06-11-2006, 09:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	Oh yeah, I was Bob Miller for the longest time when I used to be extremely paranoid about that. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

06-11-2006, 11:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
DumberDrummer Cymru am byth Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,385 OS: Windows XP Pro SP2 My System	I honestly don't care anymore... people get all paranoid about information and the internet.... "THEY CAN TRACK YOU DOWN AND RAPE YOU IN DARK ALLEYS!" I figure if anyone was going to stalk someone, it would be a helluva lot easier to do it to someone in your own community.... look at their mail to see their name and address, and follow them to school, etc... why go through all the trouble of using the internet and trying to weasel information out of kids online? That's why my name and address are freely available to all.... all you have to do is come into salem and look at a yellowpages strapped to any phone booth and you have my address... __________________ Living with Louie dog's the only way to stay sane _____________________________________________ ... and with those words so begins my lifetime of longing for the devil's warm embrace

06-11-2006, 11:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
Deckard Mentor, Analyst - Security Team Join Date: May 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,503 OS: MacOS X, Debian, OpenBSD, Windows	It's not paranoia that keeps me from giving websites my name and information. They have to earn the right to get it from me, and most of the time they're just asking to be asking. Besides, I bet a lot of them turn around and sell any information they gather to someone else for money, just like they do in meatspace. I honestly can't think of a reason why I'd want more targeted junk mail, electronic or otherwise. __________________ The chance to begin again in a golden land of opportunity and adventure. Need HijackThis help? Please read MicroBell's Five Step Process before posting. Please donate and help keep this site free to all. UNITE/ASAP: Proud member since 2006

06-12-2006, 07:40 AM	#8 (permalink)
bry623 Manager, The Conversation Pit/Analyst, Security Team Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: NW Territory circa 1787 Posts: 11,692 OS: winxp pro sp2	When I get junk mail, I cut it up into small pieces and then shred some newspaper and stuff as much of it as I can back into their prepaid envelope. They have to pay by weight. Capitol One sends me nothing now! __________________ "If you aren't a liberal when you're 20, you have no heart. If you aren't a conservative when you are 50, you have no brain"

06-12-2006, 07:42 AM	#9 (permalink)
95five-0 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Corinth, TX Posts: 1,339 OS: 2000/XP/2003/Vista/2008	I can not stand any one asking for my informatin with out giving me an explination first. Does matter if it is on the internet or at a store. Every time I go some where that asks for my phone number I give a fake one. The funny thing is since I have started doing this I don't get any telemarketer calls. And I always live at 123 Main St. Anytown, USA. __________________ "If it's really a supercomputer, how come the bullets don't bounce off when I shoot it ?" <<PC Pitstop>><< AVG Free>><<Spybot>><<Everest 2.0>><<Trend Micro House Call>><<HijackThis How-to>>

06-15-2006, 06:28 AM	#11 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,098 OS: Xp	So I am not the only one that says he was born 1-1-1900. I have only had one web site tell me I was to old to be there. My fav for email addresses include- me@work.now and me@home.now Only timer that does not work I give them one of my junkmail hotmail accounts. They can spam that one all they want. For phone #'s I use 555-555-1212 most of the time. Like others, I make up a postal address unless I really think I need something sent to me from them. I think if more people would do this, they would back off all the data mining. __________________