I just got an Instagram message from an unknown HO proposing a (seemingly high maintenance) sit.
My instagram is not linked anywhere on my profile. I asked why they sent this and they said they “found my info on a petsitting website”. This is the only site my info is on.
I keep my sitting activity private for several reasons. My profile should only be visible to other members of TH, right? So why didn’t they message me on TH? My social media and other things are never connected here.
Did they reverse image search my photo? And then find my IG?
THS profiles are available to anyone, not just members. Presumably, they messaged you away from THS because they’re not members. I’d avoid them because of that.
Isn’t there a setting for this? To make your profile publicly visible or not? It’s been a while since I set mine up, of course. I’m poking around in it now.
I have not seen an option to keep my THS profile private or for members only. I do see it as a problem, and have raised the issue before. Other sites either keep member info to members only or let members choose whether their profile should be publicly visible.
If you have some personal data in your profile I’m sure someone keen would be able to find you online.
For that reason I have a profile photo I haven’t used anywhere else and with an odd angle, and I don’t use my real name in the listing. I ofc sign my applications with my real name. I haven’t attached my LinkedIn in my listing, but offer it in applications.
Someone might be able to find me regardless, but I’ve made it harder.
Still - I see it as a major problem, and the one thing with THS that made me think twice before signing up. If I got requests and such outside platform I would question the THS handling of personal data again for sure. And agree with Maggie8k - why would a legit member put in that work to contact you off platform. Red flag.
Clicking around the site a few times will prompt a login, which can be circumvented effectively in incognito mode and a direct URL. Sitter profiles and HO listings are all publicly visible this way. Posted dates on a HO’s listing are also visible to the public. Huge security issue for all members, and it’s been around for a while.
Sounds like they ‘lurked’ the listings to try to find someone while avoiding THS subscriber costs. If so, ick! And I can’t think of any other less icky reasons someone would snoop your socials to reach out to you uninvited, outside the platform.
Can non-subscribers see & access our posted AirBnB & LinkedIn links? What about the personal references we submit?
I get why non-subscribers are allowed to browse listings of homes & sitters…it’s advertising, it gives potential subscribers a taste of what’s available, etc. But you’d think they’d be limited in how much detail they can access…?
Just tested it; created a free login, no membership or details required - ran a search, and hundreds of profiles came up, including my own on the first page. When I clicked on mine, all pictures, reviews and information was visible.
Had no idea about this. On top of that, the headline reads ‘Enjoy peace of mind with Petsitters,’
Have given zero consent to this, its a vialation of GDPR
Yes, they can, you just need to provide an email. Everything is visible, in terms of both listings, hosts and guests. You have access to the same information as a member, and can search on specific dates too
Interesting; I forgot all about registering a free account. Doh!
Thanks for taking the time to test & report. Sounds more & more like someone trying to find clever ways to get around paying the subscription fees, which makes it a loophole worth plugging for multiple reasons!
It’s a violation of data protection laws.
Highly sensitive information is exposed - when members are away, where they are traveling, and for how long. I’m now able to view interior photos of homes and exact travel dates. Quite shocked by this.
Quite pithy - they don’t just tell you directly instead of using all the legalese. This one paragraph, however, seems to say that people outside of THS should NOT be able to access our personal information:
DATA SECURITY
We have put in place appropriate security measures to prevent your personal data from being accidentally lost, altered or disclosed, used or accessed in an unauthorised way. In addition, we limit access to your personal data to those employees, agents, contractors and other third parties who have a business need to know it. They will only process your personal data on our instructions and they are subject to a duty of confidentiality. However, the transmission of data via the internet is not completely secure and we cannot guarantee that unauthorised parties will not be able to defeat those measures.
We have put in place procedures to deal with any suspected personal data breach and will notify you and any applicable regulator of a breach where we are legally required to do so.
Reverse image searches might be what gave your social media handle up. If your sm profiles are not linked to your ths profile do not cross post the same pics. Keep some for this app and some for personal off ths use that way google can’t connect them.
