key givers in public places

this is perhaps a silly question, but i wonder about the security of using key finders in public places. If someone is present when one touches a key finder, does the other person hear your key? And would that be a bad thing? What do you think?

I do not believe there is anything inherently dangerous about somebody having your key. So, I don't think there is much danger in a person's key being sent through public chat.

Your key is available to everyone, they can get it with the llSensor command.

I believe there are scanning devices out in world that you can use to scan something someone created and actually get their key. A scanfoo for example.

Someone can get your key and send you some money! but they can't take it away! I love it

If you have a person's key number you can use this Sally Tracker device to spy on them, tracking when they sign on or not, even if you do not have thier friends card.

http://www.slexchange.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&file=item&ItemID=3390

This activity seems alot like stalking.

At this point, the only thing a person can do with your UUID Key is send money, spam IMs, and spam items to you.

There are several scripting commands that require the use of an Avatar's Key in order to function. They are (but not limited to):

-Send Instant Message to (key)
-Pay Money to (key)
-Send Inventory to (key)
-Send Dialog Box to (key)

It is probably more accurate to think of a "Key" as a "Serial Number", rather than a "key on your keyring to open a lock".

Your Avatar's Key is not private information, and does not pose an account security concern other than potentially allowing someone to send you "stuff" you didn't ask for.

There are scripting commands such as llSensor that allow you to fetch someone's key without having to ask, and there has been passionate debate over whether your key is something that should be published or protected.

Also LL is very strict about abuse of keys. And will come down on spammers.

"Someone has your key - they have somehow infringed your privacy"

This is one of the biggest and oldest of forum myths. Your key is just a sort of computer-language version of your name. Some scripts can't handle that text you typed in at registration, and need your other name (key) instead.

The only thing you might not want a script to do is test to see if you are online. It needs your key. But it is a very useful facility for many purposes, and it gives absolutely no indication of where in the game you might be.

You cant keep your key secret. It does not need to be, and was never designed to be, secret. Anybody or thing within 96m of you, or over your land, can get it in a trice.

So please, don't start the ill-informed paranoid claptrap we have seen in so many threads in the past. Please, just don't. It's no threat. Honest.

I don't think its really dangerous as most things you can do with a key need your permission to do:

Animate you (without you wearing or sitting on the item)
Take money from you
Link or Unlink an object you own

Are just some examples of things that will directly ask your permission before they do it.

People CAN use your key to send you items or money or even an IM, but history shows (Flipper updating his SL boutique system) that LL does investigate high volume messaging (what could be spam) - and has said that they will deal with spam issues.

Although the Key could be used for things like that - the malicious use is a seperate issue I think.

When you sit on a pose chair, dance with a friend, touch a button, sit-teleport, get change from a vendor - or an item, attach an object your key could be being used in some manner.

if you want to get paranoid - I could get your key just by listening to you talk

That lil find button does the same thing.

Name2Key Database

Certainly it was not my intention to start any claptrap. In fact, information seeking is the first way to fight claptrap. Asking questions PREVENTS misinformation rather than starting it. Thanks for your help Ellie. I have not made any accusations or spread any myths tho, merely sought information.

EXACTLY what I was thinking, just hit find a couple times and you can see when people go in or out.. You can't see WHERE they are or anything like that.

I Didnt Do It!