Comments on: Disturbingly easy Gravatar impersonation and more internet fun

By: ZubenElSchemali

ZubenElSchemali — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:45:45 +0000

I ran across this article while searching for something and had to share some information, even though months later. I hope you see it. It is very easy to steal someone’s identity and impersonate them. It is happening to several people commenting on wordpress blogs as we speak, including me. Sometimes they just right click and copy the image and save to use in their gravatar account. Sometimes they just use the ID or online name of the person. The most recent impersonation of me I found is using the email account that I closed and have been watching for, due to my email account being hacked and my suspicions as to who it is. There are only 4 blog sites I’ve used that email address at. The person spoke vulgar in my name and said I love NAMBLA which I found out is a pedophile group, clear slander and illegal. The man I suspect has exposed email addresses and IPs of those he considers his enemy, on his blog, not mine though. He posted the name, address and phone number of a PI and asked his readers to harass him. Still he is allowed to continue his blog. He also posted the picture of a convicted pedophile and in white type so it is invisible, typed the real name of one of his perceived enemies. He since deleted it but it comes up every time someone google’s either his name or his online ID. Still he continues. I am the latest on his enemy list because I have shared proof of certain things and reported him. I posted there a few times before I realized what kind of man he really is because an article caught my attention. His latest trick is to have found a way to post as multiple people and not have any email hash showing in the address for the gravatar, even though the email is required there, so they can’t be compared to other known gravatar IDs.

Just a heads up because abuse is rampant and needs to be stopped.

By: Mark Lawrence

Mark Lawrence — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:06:13 +0000

This gravatar vulnerability is scary. It makes it so easy to slander someone online and steal their identity. The “Disqus” solution is not really a solution as someone can make a fake Disqus account and just use your same exact gravatar image. It may even make the problem worse, as it adds another layer between the person being slandered and the owner of the blog if they are ever contacted regarding the comment being taken down. At least with regular wordpress comments not through a 3rd party like Disqus, you can see the IP address etc. This is highly concerning, and I am surprised there is not more discussion or solutions for this blatant loop hole.

By: Bellamy

Bellamy — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:10:22 +0000

Great post, and great comments too. I have never thought about gravatar impersonation, but it is the unexpected threats that are most dangerous.

By: Flashback Monday - 100th Blog Post, Affiliate Program, & Super Mario Bros Z

Flashback Monday - 100th Blog Post, Affiliate Program, & Super Mario Bros Z — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:32:08 +0000

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By: Sire

Sire — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:33:49 +0000

I’ve actually just done a post on blogging identity theft where someone stole Mitch’s identity to leave a comment. He/she was hoping for an easy ride to the top commentator widget. Too bad I caught the low life out and delinked him.
Sire´s last blog ..The Reason Behind Your MLM Failure

By: EdZee

EdZee — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:56:46 +0000

Very nice observation about our email address being linked with our Gravatar image. I wish the Gravatar people would stumble upon this article and do something about the risk it now have on its members.
EdZee´s last blog ..Making Mozilla Firefox Start Faster

By: 10 Blogs where you will really enjoy commenting! | Tech-Freak Stuff

10 Blogs where you will really enjoy commenting! | Tech-Freak Stuff — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:42:06 +0000

[...] her views and I am glad to say, most of her views match with mine! Her recent topic about the Gravatar Impersonation literally shook me! She makes me feel at home when I comment on her blog which is the best thing [...]

By: Internet Income

Internet Income — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 05:32:55 +0000

That is pretty funny about the e-mail, good thinking! I never really thought about it that way but your competitors could really make a fool of you… LOL!
Internet Income´s last blog ..Maximize Your StumbleUpon Toolbar And Traffic To Your Blog

By: Brian D. Hawkins

Brian D. Hawkins — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 04:19:37 +0000

I never considered the possible comment impersonation. There’s no way to hide the email we us to comment since every blog we comment on gets it. I fall way behind on my comment duties and I’m not sure it would be a bad thing. They would almost certainly spell better than me and probably gain more friends

I hope Twitter never reads this post and gets the “online now!” idea. That drives me crazy about Facebook. I log in for a minute and get three people wanting to chat for an hour. Yahoo started that with their email so I’ve all but stopped using it. Being online shouldn’t mean you are available, just very busy.
Brian D. Hawkins´s last blog ..Chasing The Guru Ghost

By: christie

christie — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:50:49 +0000

Hi John! Yep, brilliant and dangerous minds – think alike! I did pause for a second, didn’t want to be like these reporters who tell the world how to make a bomb or some other bad thing they might not have thought of, but I decided this was something so obvious I may as well make fun of it in a post. Thank you SO much for the stumble!!