Logged in Via Google Search
I had been logged into SC earlier, but had left the site to do other things on my laptop. I did not log off from SC, so presumably was inactive. A good hour or more later, I decided to do a google search using “georgia senior chatters”. There it all was…my photo and everything I had ever said. Most of us already know this. What took me by surprise was that without leaving that google search, I was able to edit my profile, edit my blog submissions, look at all of my friends, read my messages, compose if I had wanted to, everything I do when I log in.
The shocking difference though, is that I deleted my profile photo while in google search mode. Wow! Scary Stuff folks. Try it.
Oh, I will be certain to Log Off each time I leave SC from now on. I don’t like having to do that because I visit the site frequently throughout the day, but I definitely will. (That is as soon as I finish this from the google search mode I am in.) 🙂
This gets worse. Thank You Gooogle! I just now used the search term “senior chatter members”. Up came all the member Blogs with photos and all. Amazing.
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Wow! 🙁 Thanks for this important info Georgia!
yw KayBee. Now I wonder if I could have gone into Chat from that “senior chatters members” search. Quite likely, as I was able to go everywhere else on the site.
No, you wouldn’t, you need to be a Premium Member and be logged into SC in order to access the Chat Rooms no matter what Search engine you may come from.
…And that’s the point you can Browse the Blogs and Profiles without being logged in, but you cannot post or interact without actually being a member and logged in to SC.
Rob, I am not trying to argue here, only to understand. I just did another search: “senior chatters”. That took me to one of the site’s home pages where I could click on blogs. I did that, and was able to access chat.
True, I had not logged off. Same as before when I wrote the Blog from the Google Search, I accessed Chat from the Google Search page I was on.
Seems the only answer is to be logged off the site. Am I correct? Thx Rob.
Yes, you were able to access the Chat page because you were still logged in. If you weren’t logged in you wouldn’t have been able to access it.
Georgia, the fact that you were searching in Google is irrelevant. The point is you were still logged into SC at the time, and so that’s why you could delete your profile picture.
Try logging out first and then accessing the site via Google Search. You’ll find you will not be able to interact/post/delete without actually being logged in.
Thank you Rob. Okay, I did not log off, and yes I was able to access Chat from the search page. For me, the lesson learned here is to Log Off!
Also, I deleted my photo, as I was unaware that you were making Blogs readily available for the general public to view. My own fault, just not paying attention…as usual, lol.
Yes, Blogs are publicly readable. This is intentional because the success of the site is largely determined by the Search Engines. Ask yourself how you found SC in the first place… Essentially the Blogs serve as food for the Search Engine Spiders which in turn help generate traffic and new members to SC.
I learned something(s) new today. I’m glad to to know all this. Thanks Rob.
Rob,
As it was never my intention to create negative press for SC, and adding to that the fact that I was not aware that Blogs were available to be read, I think it best to delete mine. It could well cause folks who are looking at this site, and who do not fully understand what is being said, to turn tale and run!
I don’t want that to happen. I think for those members who have read this, some good understanding has come about.
Oh, and I don’t recall how I came up on the site some years ago, or what attracted me to it, lol.
Again though, this Blog will not help to attract new members, so please Rob, delete it?
Thank you!
P.S.
Rob, I noticed that in the Google Search, it seems not to work to delete Blogs on the Site. They remain there. Is there a way to delete them, so they don’t appear there?
Georgia,
This is true for any account, SC, email or any account you didn’t log out.
That’s why it’s important to close/log out every account/site you use a password to access. Not only can you access said account from a Google search but it works same way going in through your history.
This is one main way hackers steal a person’s personal information. (Very important to log off an account with personal information when finished). Not a bad idea to keep your history cleared just in case an unauthorized person access your computer. Some sites have a feature, if you have been inactive for a specified time it will automatically log you out. Not sure if SC has this though. Hope this helps. “J”
Thanks J-your info very helpful too.
Thank you everyone! I am right beside KayBee – I learned alot too!
JSmile, my friend!
Thank you, thank you! I thought I was being cautious, overly so, with my pseduo names. Oooops.
I do not even log out of my email when I am finished. I am now on high alert, and I thank you for that.
So we learn. Always a good thing, and again JSmile, your contribution was of great value. xx
(Logging Off Everything….lol)
Can old blogs not be deleted by the author? Just how long do blogs stay up? Mine, from Valentine’s Day, needs deleting due to sheer age/ relevance. Thanks.