PRIVACY Policy?!?

Putting the information about whether we have a billable credit card or not...IN OUR PROFILE?!? Just how ignorant a move IS that? What with all the account hacks and forum hacks and whatever else is going on....SL admin now wants THIS? and for WHAT REASON?
Here is the ONLY reason given on their BLOG, for cripessakes....
"Beginning with tomorrow's release (1.10.5(1)) we will also identify your account as being one of three types:
No Payment Info on File - account was created with no credit card or Paypal
Payment Info on File - account has provided a credit card or Paypal
Payment Info Used - credit card or Paypal on account has successfully been billed

This information is being provided so that other Residents will be able to see what degree of commitment you've made to the Second Life community, at least as it's expressed in your willingness to provide us with payment information. Please be assured that we will not be releasing any real life identifying information such as name, address, credit card or bank account detail. "

This isn't making people a much easier target now, is it? Thisi is absolutely one of THE most stupid moves I have seen someone make *boggles*....and then ask us to AGREE to this WTF move or not be able to use the program.....

You're welcome to not agree to it, actually ^.^

Still, I can't see the problem. M$ latest Genuine Windows Advantage approach is much worse. And if it helps to identify griefers, and if the info is hashed and not passed on.. where is the problem?

Sure, people will know you got a credit card. So? All accounts from 2004 and back are sure to have one. All accounts 2006 and back have Paypal and/or Credit Cards. No news.

*mew*
Sheila!

TARGETTING....let's just tell whoever the hell wants to know which ones have cc info that has been USED or not? THIS IS PRIVATE INFORMATION...and you are DAMNED right it's up to ME whether to agree to it or not, thank you very much! ^o^

The way I read the blog, I remember it stating somewhere in there that there will be the ability to ban people who didnt verify their identity (through use of a cc) from entering your parcel. This I like. It dosen't mean that I will ban everyone for no good reason, but it could be significantly useful in non-linden-controlled areas that are prone to griefer attacks.

Its not like they are putting your CC# in your profile, they are just saying "Yes, this user has provided us identification information, so everyone can sleep soundly knowing that they are far less likely to do something like shoot everyone, thereby risking their paid account."

Oh also, they will be updating the Terms of Service (TOS) agreement with this as well tomorrow. You will be prompted weither or not you want to agree to have your information posted. So yes, you are right in saying it is up to you weither or not you want to have this information posted. The choice will be given to you, and you have the right to hit no.

And if you hit no, you'll not be able to log in. So it's not a choice a resident can make. It's "put up, or leave!"

Just remember to judge people based on their commitment to SL and don't forget to ban them from your land, don't want to let the rifraf in now do we.

An engineered social split and class system, seems the dream of SL being a progressive society are well and truly dead.

Well actually, yes it is a choice a resident can make. If it bothers you to the point that you will not stand for it, then you need to hit no. Otherwise, why start a rant, if you wont stand up for your principles?

I will be clicking Yes, because this does not violate my principles.

I already have too much invested to be able to just walk away, so no, it's not a choice.

If a Hacker knows a certain person paid with credit card, that hacker could try to compromise your bank account.,

Magnum, I'll make a wild guess and say that you own a credit card and that in 3 years you must have engaged in at least one transaction with LL. Now kindly explain to me how I'll put that insider knowledge to use to compromise your bank account...

A flag indicating an account level is NOT a bridge between the profiles and any information accessible in game and the billing system. And knowing that someone owns a credit cardis a bit too little to allow you to to compromise their bank account.

Wendel

Guess that means I'm not dedicated to Second Life? Guess I'll stop spending my money here..

Folks, this is nothing new. Paypal has been using a similar system for years. Anyone with an email address can sign up and send/recieve money through the system, but you can also also link, say, your bank account to your Paypal account and be listed as a verified member.

What's the point? Business. When dealing with mosty anonymous people over the internet, people can say they're anybody (Hello, I'm the extradited Prince of Nigeria and I have a very sensitive financial matter that only *you* can help me with...). Stuff like credit cards and bank accounts tie you to a real life identity, a proof that there's a living, breathing person on the other side of the keyboard and should a dispute or fraud arrise, they can be tracked down by a trusted 3rd party and action taken.

This makes no one a "target" for hackers, unless you do something very stupid like falling for a phishing scam or actualy trying to help said "Nigerian prince". Fun fact: The majority of identity theft crimes are committed the old fashioned way, taking stuff out of people's mailboxes or dumpster diving.

I take it you are not a paying customer.

I would *assume* that if you bought $L through the Lindex with either a credit card or paypal they would count you as verified. Who knows though.

While I do not fall into the "Sky is Falling" camp at all, that statement is untrue. Accounts have been hacked and access gained to them. While this will not provide the hacker with any personal information or credit card numbers, it does give them access to your credit card in the form of the lindex.

I can hack a resident identified as having valid payment info and then use the account to buy say 1000$US worth of Lindens and then transfer them to an unverified alt. That alt then transfers to another alt and is abandoned. The hacked account can trace the theft only so far as the abandoned alt through transaction history. LL could trace it further if they were willing to do so, but that is unseen at this time. And even if the individual is caught and banned, that does not give the hacked resident their 1000$US back.

So, yes, it is possible for this information to make some of us more of a target than we were before. Not much more, but it's just making the work of the hackers easier, faster and more reliable is all.

No, it's not. Everybody who registered their account prior to June 6th has provided Linden Lab with payment information. Having this knowledge, for the last three years, has not given us any added ability to target them. Your fears are unwarranted and irrational. You may relax now.

Having provided payment information at some point in the last 2 years does not mean I have valid payment information NOW. The new status will tell potential hackers exactly who has an up to date and valid CC they can access lindex with immediately.

Somehow I doubt that they will count past use or billing of a CC in this. They will make us enter it now, after the game comes up I am willing to bet. Guess what, to "verify", I am also willing to bet they will take $1 from each of us. Each time I have switched the CC I use, they do this, and do I get it back? No. They billed me the regular rate, and I never got this dollar back. Small thing, yeah, but still, they took that dollar, many times, and never gave me anything in return for it. Now, disgusted with how they have degraded the game, I have become a basic member. By instituting this measure, they are making me and others who have done the same targets, "freeloaders on welfare" as so many of you like to consider us, previous amounts of money dumped into this game, and content contributed notwithstanding.

I predicted that at some point Lindens would sell their own imaginary money for US cash, and it's coming, you know it is, they have said it is, when the supply runs out.

Now my prediction is that this new "flag" on our profiles, will at some time be similar to sewing the star of David on our lapels, marking us for ridicule and unfair treatment.

Yay for giving up freedom in return for imagined security!

Up intill a couple weeks ago, EVERYONE had to be a verified account holder. So now they will place it in your profile... big deal...
The only ones who may be discriminated against are new ppl who start an account with no CC, otherwise most of the ppl you run accross are going to be "varified".

All this means is with the new open registration you will no longer have to "assume".

Statement that "account has provided a credit card or Paypal Payment Info Used - credit card or Paypal on account has successfully been billed" also doesn't mean this payment information is valid _NOW_ -- it could've been payment done for a year-long subscription with cc that has long since expired, or with a pre-charged no-debit card that has no longer any money on it, for all anyone but owner knows...

he maybe, but I am not -.-.. I don't want to be banned form a paracell because i don't have info out to LL >.< there are people that don't like ramming into a no entry yea because they don't have info..

way your in a plane and the other people in the plane has the info they need to pass areas no problem... well think of that

No it isn't private. Before free registration everyone knew you provided CC info to Linden Labs. After Free registration people knew whoever was born after that date did NOT. this wasn't something that needed a rocket scientist to figure out.

Are you by chance one of the griefers the new policy will effect? Someone who makes 50 disposable alts to grief with? Well, now that residents can ban non-payment info from their land they will be baning disposable griefing alts as well.

you have a problem with this?

Go grief in another game then. Suckka

*sticks tongue out*
Sav

OK.

Rewind a year or so.. lets say early '05


Greifers still exist, but havent multiplied yet
The ShieldBreaker doesnt exist
Shields still work.
The ratings stystem allowed for neg ratings.
SL Accounts cost 9$ to create.

Those of you who speak of segregation based on payment info..

The old system meant that you couldn't even join SL unless you had a CC or PayPal. And we didn't complain back then!

Late '05: Accounts become free to create
Greifing goes up

Mid '06: CC verificiation removed
Grefing goes into the f***ing ceiling.

What i'm getting at is, that somehow, we got along when everyone was verified back in '05, and if someone wants to experience all that SL has to offer, they need to have payment info.

These days, i've got no sympathy for you if you start missing things because you refuse to verify your account. Thats YOUR fault and YOU can change the situation at any time. In the meantime, enjoy the red lines.

I understand what you are saying. However, I run a community in SL and griefing there has increased exponentially (sp?) since LL relaxed its registration process. All the griefers are coming from accounts forn post June 2006. Personally, I will have to make a very tough decission wheather to ban non "verified" members from the community once that option becomes available.