MobileMe iChat Privacy > AOL Lifestream

Question

Level 4

1,412 points

MobileMe iChat Privacy > AOL Lifestream

If you use iChat with a MobileMe screen name, this pertains to you.

iChat is designed to work with numerous Instant Message (IM) mediums, including AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). Your MobileMe e-mail address can be used as an AIM screen name with iChat, or any other AIM client.

However, AOL's new "AOL | Lifestream" social media system turns on a public profile for you by default, regardless if you ever have visited the site. If you use a MobileMe e-mail address as your iChat screen name, this may affect your privacy.

Your public feed is posted on the following link: http : // lifestream dot aol dot com / stream / username @ me dot com

To modify your privacy settings on AOL | Lifestream, visit this site: http://www.lifestream.aol.com and log in with your MobileMe credentials.

Click "Accounts" then click "Settings" <--- You will have access to how your information is posted on this page.

Again, I encourage you to check your privacy settings on this web page as they are set "public" by default.

--

News Article: "Yet Another Data Broker? AOL Lifestream."
http://bit.ly/hLzCgU
--

 15" Macbook Pro (Core i7), iPhone 4, iPad 3G, MobileMe

Posted on Jan 13, 2011 8:14 AM

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Answer 1

Defcom-UK

Level 6

15,488 points

Jan 13, 2011 9:27 AM in response to JohnBradshaw

Thanks.

Why do they do these things.

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Answer 2

Jan 14, 2011 4:11 AM in response to JohnBradshaw

John,

This looks to be alarming indeed!
I'm afraid I couldn't find any way to log on to AOL Lifestream using my MobileMe ID. The only options appear to be to 'Sign up for an account' (no way!), or log on using my facebook account (which doesn't work either). But the access options that Lifestream seeks for one's facebook account are comprehensive in the extreme – such as "Have access to all your data at any time when you are not using your account," and "Have access to all your photos and videos" and many more. This is simply outrageous!
Everyone should be widely alerted to this. I'm really surprised that it is allowed in the first place – and all cocooned in nice language, and clean, friendly AOL graphics.

I'm keen to be able to access this site and delete any of my info held there and deny any further access – but how?

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Answer 3

Defcom-UK

Level 6

15,488 points

Jan 14, 2011 4:54 AM in response to Lorimer Burn

Check your login details in your keychain to make sure of your password.

Found i had forgot i had changed mine a while back so could not login at first with the original one.

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Answer 4

Jan 14, 2011 12:16 PM in response to Lorimer Burn

As well as John's Link you may want to start from here https://settings.aim.com/

8:15 PM Friday; January 14, 2011

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

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Answer 5

huk_ro

Level 1

0 points

Mar 22, 2011 2:47 AM in response to Defcom-UK

If the site login is not working (as it was for me), you can try to log in AIM for iPhone and change the settings for Lifestream inside the Profile/Preferences/Lifestream Settings

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Answer 6

SaabGirl

Level 1

9 points

Mar 26, 2011 8:54 PM in response to Defcom-UK

Defcom
This issue is disturbing. I'm an AOL user, AIM and I iChat a lot with friends and family.. I know a lot about Macs having used them for many years but I'm not sure of "behind the scene" things like where to find the keychain details,etc. I'm not even sure about what's being said about the name being the same.. I do know that when I'm signed onto iChat, I'm also signed on to AIM..
I'd appreciate some assistance because I need to protect my privacy..
Thanks to you and everyone who's posting here..

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Answer 7

Defcom-UK

Level 6

15,488 points

Mar 27, 2011 6:34 AM in response to SaabGirl

Hi

You will find "Keychain access" in your Apps folder>utillies

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Answer 8

Mar 27, 2011 12:55 PM in response to SaabGirl

Hi,

There is this Users Tip on Defcom's advice.

It was written some while ago but you should be able to work out what to do from the "Next Step" section.

8:55 PM Sunday; March 27, 2011

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

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