Good call Bear. Other than the people in the organisation who you have had to out yourself too your desire to keep your ID under wraps is a wise move. Years ago with the Information Security manager of the organisation I was in I prepared a training course and co-wrote a small handbook for in house IT professionals.
One of the things I took away from the experience is that however strong the encryption or sophisticated the hardware it is the user who will cause a breach. From poor password security to failing to lock screens when away from a machine there are a lots of ways to mess up. Not following ID protocols on voice calls etc.
And a secret shared is no longer a secret as such. People like to blab.
(In my last role in Adult Social Care Information Security was a standing agenda item. Under the heading of Data Breaches. The look on people's faces when I was asked about this and replied "No and I'm not keen on data breeches. I find they chafe a bit. I'm more of a Lederhosen chap myself").
I think the precautions: software and social/occupational are warranted (for everyone really). You will still be found by whoever, wherever, but it begins to remove the expectation of anonymity and invulnerability, which can lead even the best among us to intemperate (and thereby potentially self-sabotaging) journalism. Well done on the disclosure - it sets a good example too.
The next step is a windowless bunker with a Faraday Cage and an air-gapped computer 😉
I'm glad I found your posts, glad to be part of the community you've built, mostly of sound, sane and decent people. I love your posts, your common sense, sense of decency and honesty.
🐻.......sensible thing to do, well done, and hopefully the sort of response you'd expect if you have a good line manager 👏🏻....any less stress is a win win....and as the people of Cabo Verde's mantra is " No Stress " you can relax a little after covering that niggling issue
The fact that creeps are trying to hack you shows you are worrying Ms Truss 'deep state' So keep up the great work, I always read your posts to keep me sane
Good for you, lots of sage advice and action there, and yes, our conjured fears are the worst anxiety! An alternative persona does give greater freedom and I can think of a few commentators who protect their identity for the same reasons, you cannot be too careful when clearly there are plenty who would rather you did not comment. This is why the Online safety act worries me with its requirement to prove identity. It’s all a gift for those wanting a handle on us, and for a spurious ‘reason’.
I often sensed over the last 2.5 years it must have been a worry at times trying to juggle and keep these 2 things separate as your daytime career must come first for obvious reasons but your passion for writing & addressing political issues was a tricky balance. I'm glad for you that you bit the bullet with your management team but I'd also say that as much as we would all love to see you, know who you are by real name, in my personal opinion its really best to keep what the real You is. A little snippet or growl on the day to day is nice but keep something for yourself and family.
I'm feeling guilty right now because of accidentally posting a photo of myself & husband out the other day, I normally cut him out of such a photo, myself I really don't care about but I've always kept my family Husband & Son out of my Twitter because as weird as it may sound I feel its an intrusion into their privacy, only done it once but feel guilty, 😔
Well done 😀 In my last full-time teaching job (I've been a supply teacher for the past 10+ years) I was called in by the Head who had somehow 'stumbled' across an education-based blog I used to write. I never named names or said anything particularly damning, and I didn't use my real name (duh!) - it wasn't a nice conversation. (Neither was this Head a nice person- she was new and looking for reasons to get rid of staff she didn't like). So I'm glad your 'coming out' went well.
Well done, it all makes perfect sense and the logical next step!
More power to your elbow (or whatever the saying is 😊)
Good news on the work front, Bear, but please be careful about the hacking! That's nerve-wracking and hopefully you've reported them to the police?
I bet that’s a relief but I’m sad to hear that there’s an organised attempt to find out your id that’s a bit unnerving xx
Good call Bear. Other than the people in the organisation who you have had to out yourself too your desire to keep your ID under wraps is a wise move. Years ago with the Information Security manager of the organisation I was in I prepared a training course and co-wrote a small handbook for in house IT professionals.
One of the things I took away from the experience is that however strong the encryption or sophisticated the hardware it is the user who will cause a breach. From poor password security to failing to lock screens when away from a machine there are a lots of ways to mess up. Not following ID protocols on voice calls etc.
And a secret shared is no longer a secret as such. People like to blab.
(In my last role in Adult Social Care Information Security was a standing agenda item. Under the heading of Data Breaches. The look on people's faces when I was asked about this and replied "No and I'm not keen on data breeches. I find they chafe a bit. I'm more of a Lederhosen chap myself").
Thanks for another exquisitely expressed article. A sort of defence of your realm. Purrfect (yes I know bears growl). 🙏
Any less stress is always best, brother Bear.
Glad to hear your work handled it exactly how you wanted and such a relief for you. Keep on doing what you’re doing . . . Please 🙏🥳
I think the precautions: software and social/occupational are warranted (for everyone really). You will still be found by whoever, wherever, but it begins to remove the expectation of anonymity and invulnerability, which can lead even the best among us to intemperate (and thereby potentially self-sabotaging) journalism. Well done on the disclosure - it sets a good example too.
The next step is a windowless bunker with a Faraday Cage and an air-gapped computer 😉
Now you have papal dispensation .. onwards & upwards x
I'm glad I found your posts, glad to be part of the community you've built, mostly of sound, sane and decent people. I love your posts, your common sense, sense of decency and honesty.
So the Bear is the political commentary equivalent of Alice Cooper and you are Vince Furnier. Stay safe and keep up the good work 👏👏👏
🐻.......sensible thing to do, well done, and hopefully the sort of response you'd expect if you have a good line manager 👏🏻....any less stress is a win win....and as the people of Cabo Verde's mantra is " No Stress " you can relax a little after covering that niggling issue
The fact that creeps are trying to hack you shows you are worrying Ms Truss 'deep state' So keep up the great work, I always read your posts to keep me sane
Good for you, lots of sage advice and action there, and yes, our conjured fears are the worst anxiety! An alternative persona does give greater freedom and I can think of a few commentators who protect their identity for the same reasons, you cannot be too careful when clearly there are plenty who would rather you did not comment. This is why the Online safety act worries me with its requirement to prove identity. It’s all a gift for those wanting a handle on us, and for a spurious ‘reason’.
I often sensed over the last 2.5 years it must have been a worry at times trying to juggle and keep these 2 things separate as your daytime career must come first for obvious reasons but your passion for writing & addressing political issues was a tricky balance. I'm glad for you that you bit the bullet with your management team but I'd also say that as much as we would all love to see you, know who you are by real name, in my personal opinion its really best to keep what the real You is. A little snippet or growl on the day to day is nice but keep something for yourself and family.
I'm feeling guilty right now because of accidentally posting a photo of myself & husband out the other day, I normally cut him out of such a photo, myself I really don't care about but I've always kept my family Husband & Son out of my Twitter because as weird as it may sound I feel its an intrusion into their privacy, only done it once but feel guilty, 😔
Well done 😀 In my last full-time teaching job (I've been a supply teacher for the past 10+ years) I was called in by the Head who had somehow 'stumbled' across an education-based blog I used to write. I never named names or said anything particularly damning, and I didn't use my real name (duh!) - it wasn't a nice conversation. (Neither was this Head a nice person- she was new and looking for reasons to get rid of staff she didn't like). So I'm glad your 'coming out' went well.