I notice that some people on this site seem to be putting their real name and a full date of birth. From this information it can take someone about 3 minutes to get all the information they require to get to steal your identity.

This was highlighted by a recent problem on the 'World of Warcraft" internet game. They required anyone posting to use their real name to stop problems with the posting threads. A lot of people complained and one executive went online and posted a comment with his real name saying that there was no issue about this and what was the problem. Within one hour his name, address, and a mass of private information about him and his family had been published on the website.

Once you leave a real name you allow people to start finding you. It depends on how much presence you have on the net, how you use social networks etc, but it is not difficult.

However, a name and date of birth makes it easy to get you mother's maiden name and from that get into all manner of financial details.

The upshot of this is that I do not think the Date of Birth should be on this site, and perhaps not even the real name, at least not in places where anyone can see them.

[Edit] A least a warning to new members might be in order.