Dishonest Oracle DBA's leak sensitive data Oracle Database Tips by Donald Burleson

See my full notes on conducting a background check on an Oracle professional

In today's wired world, entrepreneurs are gathering public information and consolidating it for sale to the public.  This information includes you complete history, every home purchase, your credit history plus every criminal arrest and conviction, right down to traffic violations.

Also, see my notes on why bad credit indicates a dishonest personality. and Oracle employers checking your credit history

The potential for abuse of personal information

This article notes that publishing personal information can be creepy when web stalkers and psychos seek-out and publish your private information on the web, for alleged insults and misdemeanors.

"Last month, Eva Burgess was eating breakfast at the Rose Cafe in Venice, Calif., when she remembered she needed to make an appointment with her eye doctor. So the New York theater director got on her cell phone and booked a date.

Almost immediately, she started receiving "weird and creepy" calls directing her to a blog.

There, under the posting "Eva Burgess Is Getting Glasses!" her name, cell phone number and other details mentioned in her call to the doctor's office were posted, along with the admonition, "next time, you might take your business outside."

The offended blogger had been sitting next to Burgess in the cafe."

Many States have strict privacy laws and you may be able to sue for "invasion of privacy" and presenting you in a "false light", but most of the web stalkers will be judgment proof, and lawsuits are meaningless to them.  For details on your recourse for having your personal details published on the web, see the book "Web Stalkers".

Huge potential for information abuse

Many of the information collection companies are not concerned with "why" someone wants your personal history, only that you can pay the fee.  For example, US Search offers complete background checks that are helpful for evaluating friends, potential business partners and blind dates.  The background checks include many personal details, anything that is a matter of public record:

• Bankruptcies
• Tax Liens
• Small Claims Court
• Civil Lawsuit and Judgments
• Marriage and divorce history
• Home Value and Property Ownership
• All criminal arrests and convictions including sentences and fines
• Driving records - includes all moving violations and parking tickets
• Vehicle registration details
• Credit records - Past due debts
• Social Security number
• Education records - Proof of enrollment & graduation
• Workers' compensation claims and payments
• Sex offender checks
• State and Federal licenses
• Drug test records and results
• Past employment history
• Military records - name, rank, salary, duty assignments, awards, and duty status.

Supplemental background research

Some background check agencies specialize in additional information including:

• Neighbor interviews and character references
• Mug shots

But wait, there's more!

Note that in certain cases your employer may request that any job applicant provide a release for:

• Medical & Psychiatric records
• School transcripts and disciplinary proceedings

Many professionals misunderstand that anything that is in the public domain can be consolidated and sold to the public.  Can it's not just employers and banks who can see this information.  Anyone can check-out anyone else, making these database searches a great way to learn about your friends, competitors, boyfriend/girlfriend an co-workers.

The background check mandates of Negligent Hiring

Background checks for employers has become mandatory these days because of "negligent hiring", and employers must conduct background checks to ensure that the new employee does not pose a risk to other employees.

Janet Burleson includes a full example of using background checks in her book "Win your Computer Dream Job". Also see the book on protection from Cyberstalkers