Garlik DataPatrol report

So my first Garlik DataPatrol full report has arrived, some three weeks after I registered (this follows an initial credit report which arrived just a couple of days after registration).

The report is beautifully presented (online), and contains some really useful information—such as a view of how the credit agencies see you and a demographic analysis of your residential area. I also learned where to go to stop junk mail—the Mail Preference Service—and that I could opt out of the Electoral Roll ("just put a cross in the box on your annual Electoral Roll renewal form") and restrict access to Companies House information on me (also with the MPS), all in order to reduce my risk of suffering Identity Theft.

However, I am apparently doing a Bad Thing in putting a link to my CV on my blog, and using my real name on my blog. This is a tricky one, because the professional benefits to me of having this information openly discoverable are considerable. But it does bring home to me why many bloggers blog pseudonymously...

One aspect of DataPatrol that doesn't work well yet is the Connections section, where your supposed personal and company connections are listed. Perhaps this is partly because us bloggers put ourselves virtually around somewhat, but the results here really don't give a good picture of my important connections. I haven't even met many of the individuals listed—they simply work for a company that employs someone I do know.

The other thing that was a bit creepy was having many of the people who live on my street listed by name and address! That just brings home the perils of being on the Electoral Roll, I guess. Nevertheless, I'm not sure I want to snoop on my neighbours. Perhaps Garlik should consider omitting this category of information from their reports?

These niggles aside, I would certainly recommend my UK readers give Garlik a try—it doesn't take more than ten minutes or so to register, and you will surely gain some useful and thought-provoking insights into how your identity is represented in the public sphere.

Garlik raise Series B funding

Looks like Garlik has convinced some more investors that there's money to be made in supersurveillance:

Garlik has raised £6 million pounds in Series B funding from return backers 3i Group and Doughty Hanson Technology Ventures.

Their product:

DataPatrol is a new monthly monitoring service that finds, tracks and monitors your personal information online.

It's the simple and effective way to protect your privacy and identity.

Hum, that's an awful big claim! I reckon I'll have to take their free trial for a spin and report back...