Profile Pen Name - Protect Your E-Image - Cyber Safety

The Internet is a wonderful new world. Hub Pages is one of my favorite spots in this world. As a new author here (4 months at this time), I tried many things - I love experimenting. I also appreciate it when life slaps me - and tells me pointblank "you goofed!" So with that I must share with you my failed experiment.

I started writing here on Hub Pages under my real name. Many of my Hubbers will remember (at least I hope I was memorable!) my name and personal photo. I have for many years run Google alerts on my name. Recently my real name showed up with links to other websites linking to pornographic photos. So quickly I took down my real name here on Hub Pages. To Hub Pages credit - they assisted within hours! Hub Pages response was wonderful. Remember this was my mistake. "You cannot change your Profile Name!"

So here I am as "GmaGoldie" with a couple of bumps and bruises - nothing permanent but I wanted to share with you my lessons learned.

Cyber Safety Tip#1 - Always Run Google Alerts on your Real Name and on Your Pen Names

This ensures you know where your identity and professional impact is hitting. If you see something on Twitter for a name you don't use on Twitter - follow that link and see exactly where that leads. This is how I discover my real name was out on Twitter.

Cyber Safety Tip#2 - Protect Your Real Name - Use a Pen Name

Just as we have learned that we cannot post children's photos out on the Internet, just as we have learned that Face book now has multiple security levels (out of necessity), so too, we must guard our real name.

Citizen writers who offer any remote type of opinion must safeguard their own name. Pen names have worked well for centuries and that rule translates well to our electronic age.

Google Keywords

Reminder Google run on keywords, your pen name if attributed directly to your target market will help you in the page rankings.

Cyber Safety Tip#3 - Females Take Special Care with Pen Name and Profile Name

When the Internet was just coming of age, I started to Google my maiden name. My Mother gave me a great name and often I have had people ask if "Kelly Kline" was a stage name. Well, Kelly Kline was my real biological name given to me at birth. Funny story, my Grandmother lived in a time when prejudice was rampant and she felt strongly skeletons need to remain in the closet. I share this with you for your benefit. My life lessons, I pray will not be your life lessons. Anyway when Mom named me, she was appalled - she stated - oh, my people will now know we are Irish! Mom didn't even know we were part Irish! Mom and Grandfather was progressive/ahead of their time/non-discriminatory - whatever - they liked the name and so I was Kelly Kline for many years.

Three Cyber Safety "Pen/Profile Name" Takeaways - Your Action Plan for Internet Safety

I share this you so that you might learn. Hear the life lessons, take note, take head, take care of that legal name given to you.

Knowledge is power. I simply wish to empower you and motivate you to:

1. Google your name, both your real name and your pen name,
2. Set up weekly Google alerts for your pen/profile name and
3. Thoroughly review anything that looks unusual.

PS If you run a Google check on my maiden name "Kelly Kline" you will have millions of photos and videos - do not open them - the majority of these photographs are all pornographic. They are NOT me! For a point of reference," the Kelly Kline the American pornographic actress
" is young enough to be my daughter. I "first" had that name two decades beforehand! But nonetheless the Internet volume rules not the age of the person!

PSS I have lost all my followers, Hub Pages was able to retain my articles. If you could kindly re-connect with me - I would greatly appreciate it!

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