RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: patvp1 on Thursday 13 September 18 00:53 BST (UK)
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Am really furious - Checked my family trees today, which I have not done for quite some time, only to find information has been added lord knows from where ?? info on my youngest son's ex wife, info on his present partner, details of my divorce and my former marriage which is wrong (date shown is the same as my eldest sons birth) ... Where on earth do they gather this information...This is not just on one tree but both my maternal and paternal trees. Has this happened to any one else ?? and what on earth can I do to amend it. Am just so furious.... Excuse the rant but anyone viewing my trees as access to all misinformation. :-X
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Surely the only way this should be able to happen is if someone has logged in as you or you have shared your tree with someone and inadvertently given them editing rights which they have used.
If neither of those then there is a major issue at Ancestry.
How annoying. Have you contacted Ancestry. I can’t think of any easy way to fix it.
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Have you shared your tree with anyone? I think this can be set for them to just view (as a guest) or as a conributor
You can check this in Tree Settings -> Sharing
Gadget
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Nope - my tree has not been shared..and is supposed to be private on Ancestry...the other thing being, I am in Australia and all the people concerned (been named) are also Australian's... just cannot figure it out and as I said most of the info has been incorrect...figure the only thing I can do is delete, but still cannot figure how this information has been copied onto two separate trees ???
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Am really furious - Checked my family trees today, which I have not done for quite some time, only to find information has been added lord knows from where ?? info on my youngest son's ex wife, info on his present partner, details of my divorce and my former marriage which is wrong (date shown is the same as my eldest sons birth) ... Where on earth do they gather this information...This is not just on one tree but both my maternal and paternal trees. Has this happened to any one else ?? and what on earth can I do to amend it. Am just so furious.... Excuse the rant but anyone viewing my trees as access to all misinformation. :-X
All these people would be living people, and I thought Ancestry's software doesn't allow for information about living people to be displayed at all.
I don't understand why such sensitive information gets uploaded to any online website. I thought it was possible to have your software restrict uploading such information. Perhaps you need to decide what to upload and what not to.
JM
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Assuming your tree is patvp_1. I can confirm it is private - to me anyway
Have you a grandchild who might have had a wee play around?
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Wish it were that easy, no grandchildren around...and no one else has access to my computer...added to this two of the names mentioned are the so called original and yet they were name changed by the step father and are known by that name now...hope that makes sense...they are both adults... ??? still damned if I know how anyone could get access...oh dear where to next ??
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Is there anywhere that allows you to see date when changes were made and who made them? For example, if you click on one of those 'added' people can you check?
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This is really concerning - if the trees are private, and you haven't given anyone (editing or contributing) access via the Tree Sharing option, it shouldn't be able to happen.
Can I just ask if the trees have been previously shared, just to rule that out as a possibility?
And I assume you will be contacting Ancestry to ask how this could possibly have happened - will you keep us posted on their reply?
Sympathies to you - this is one of the things we all dread.
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If you haven't already done it go to Trees - Create and Manage Trees. Then under Role it should say Owner and under that the number of people invited ( if any). Click on that, if there are any, and that tells you who they are and what rights they have i.e guest or editor.
If it shows none, take a screen shot so you can forward that to Ancestry.
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I've just looked you up on Ancestry which confirms your tree is private, and only gives the info below. So it would seem that no-one without access to your account could add those changes. Is it possible to hack Ancestry pages, I wonder? It does sound as though what has been put on there is malicious or at the very least designed to cause mischief.
Regards
GS
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Aghhhh .......... there's also patvp :D :D
JM
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I had a problem last year as I was alerted to the fact that a public tree on Ancestry was displaying my details and those of my immediate family (including photos) - all of whom are definitely alive and well.
The tree had (obviously) no death dates marked but neither did it say 'living'. I tried contacting the tree owner (twice, first time was quite polite, second time not so polite) and no response.
I emailed customersolutions{at}ancestry{dot}com (replace the bracketted portions with the appropriate symbol) and had a response within the day to say the names I had reported as being living were now marked as such and all details hidden from view.
I'd suggest that you contact them at that email address, they did seem to take my complaint seriously and resolved it quickly. They may well be able to help with your problem.
Boo
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phone number for Australia support
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Thanks for raising this. I await developments with interest.
I'm relieved I didn't put any living people on my Ancestry tree.
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Thanks for raising this. I await developments with interest.
patvp1 - any developments with this?
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You also might change your password just in case an unauthorized person has access. Also, you might consider changing the name of your tree.
:)
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The same thing happens to trees on Family Search and a lot of the extras are put on there by My Heritage, and as well as anyone who thinks they know more than you.
They don't stop to think that you have done all this expensive research to obtain the best possible results for the truth. No they change it. I have locked up my Trees to protect them but they still get changed.
I will not accept the responsibility of declaring that my tree is mine alone now. I also will not add to them anymore. The only tree I have is the one I keep on my computer. The big question now is what do I do with it at this close to the end of my time. The advent of the Internet & computers has been a boon to Genealogy, but it has also become the death of it as well.
Regards
Geoff
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Is it possible to hack Ancestry pages, I wonder? It does sound as though what has been put on there is malicious or at the very least designed to cause mischief.
I rather doubt that Ancestry's protection is as strong as that of banks and government orgs which the Russians and others hack into for various reasons. Can't see why they would bother with your family though. I could understand it from a (possibly young and nerdy) member of your extended family?
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I’m intrigued by this also so updates would be good.
When I am on my friends ancestry looking at info some of the hits on my own tree have errors of displayed info like yesterday it was showing as an American address when it is Irish. Logged out and went to my tree but couldn’t find where this info was listed as the addresses on the person were ireland as they should be.
I want to invest in a good ‘offline’ tree builder and just use ancestry for looking up documents
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I’m intrigued by this also so updates would be good.
When I am on my friends ancestry looking at info some of the hits on my own tree have errors of displayed info like yesterday it was showing as an American address when it is Irish. Logged out and went to my tree but couldn’t find where this info was listed as the addresses on the person were ireland as they should be.
I want to invest in a good ‘offline’ tree builder and just use ancestry for looking up documents
This one has happened a lot in my tree - I input the address as xx, xxxx, co xxxx, Ireland, and ancestry shows it in the summaries etc, as U.S.A (mainly Colorado!)
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I’m intrigued by this also so updates would be good.
When I am on my friends ancestry looking at info some of the hits on my own tree have errors of displayed info like yesterday it was showing as an American address when it is Irish. Logged out and went to my tree but couldn’t find where this info was listed as the addresses on the person were ireland as they should be.
I want to invest in a good ‘offline’ tree builder and just use ancestry for looking up documents
This one has happened a lot in my tree - I input the address as xx, xxxx, co xxxx, Ireland, and ancestry shows it in the summaries etc, as U.S.A (mainly Colorado!)
Yeah it’s baffling then I’m thinking there is hidden info on my tree because of it. So annoying!
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Have you tried entering the word 'County' in full? I would expect a USA-based system to read 'Co' as the usual abbreviation for Colorado.
Carol
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But why the hell are you giving strangers information anyway?
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Actually, a couple of weeks ago, I was adding some new info and records into my Ancestry private tree, and had similar problems. In one family line in particular, names had been changed around, and some records had been deleted!! I had only two people (close relatives of mine) that I have known personally for many years, and who have been excellent assisting me in my research over many years! Only those two had editing rights, but when they both passed away about a year ago, I closed off their Editor status, so I'm pretty sure I must have been hacked in some way! I've been working on it solidly for a couple of weeks trying to get it right again, and still working on it! Fortunately, I have paper copies of certificates, census entries etc, so that's helping a bit!
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Now that is a worrying event...
I have just attempted to look at my tree (s) to see if anything similar is happening.. but it means logging out and in and my password is not to hand.. so cant do that.
but I think all is ok..
I do share with some friends.. but they are only guests.
GET on to Ancestry to sort it.. they are responsible for the way information is stored.. if WORD gets out that it is NOT a secure site.. they will loose custom
xin
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What strikes me about all this is that these trees are never really 'Private' but open to all sorts of hacking and abuse however you try to protect them. Ancestry (or whoever) are the real owners of 'your' information once you give it to them.
Just glad I never have.
Melbell
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I have found this thread interesting as it has confirmed things I had previously thought I was imaging.
I have had the place name changing experience whereby places in Northumberland were suddenly transferred to South Carolina, USA simply because I had not stated the place was in England. Fair enough and easily sorted. However more worrying is the disappearing records which at first I put down to bad memory on my part but having read what others say I am convinced I have lost records.
I have several trees on Ancestry but these occurrences have all occurred on my main tree which is and always has been private, or so I thought !!!!!!!!!
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My tree is private, but I do think that it's unfair that people can still download certificates, stories and photographs from my tree and add to their own! Photos and stories and records from other trees often pop up when Im doing a search, and some of them are old photos that I've cleaned up ((or Rootchat Restorers have) then I've later added names and dates onto the photo itself, also, Official Records, Newspaper articles etc., all thing I have paid for myself and I get very hot under the collar when somebody just freely copies my photos, stories, certs etc, without even asking by PM, and not even bothering to say thank you! If someone's else's photos or records pop up when I'm doing a search, and it's one I don't have, I make a point of messaging the member, introducing myself, and asking if they mind if I copy some of their photos and certs! And I always say thank you!
But..., if it's people who have just added my stuff willy nilly without bothering to ask me, I get really wild. GRRR😡😡😡. I just have to laugh though when I see one person in particular who has attached some of my photo's stories etc to the wrong person - ie one photo and cert. in particular, was a photo of my Mum, which had been renamed as her younger sister Mary! This person has a huge number of people in her tree, around the 10,000 mark, and five or 6 of my own personally owned photos have also been renamed by her and added to someone totally unrelated to me! This woman is not only a name gatherer, she is a total menace! In the words of Donald Trump, she's a "Fake" Researcher!!
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My tree is private, but I do think that it's unfair that people can still download certificates, stories and photographs from my tree and add to their own! Photos and stories and records from other trees often pop up when Im doing a search, and some of them are old photos that I've cleaned up ((or Rootchat Restorers have) then I've later added names and dates onto the photo itself, also, Official Records, Newspaper articles etc., all thing I have paid for myself and I get very hot under the collar when somebody just freely copies my photos, stories, certs etc, without even asking by PM, and not even bothering to say thank you! If someone's else's photos or records pop up when I'm doing a search, and it's one I don't have, I make a point of messaging the member, introducing myself, and asking if they mind if I copy some of their photos and certs! And I always say thank you!
But..., if it's people who have just added my stuff willy nilly without bothering to ask me, I get really wild. GRRR😡😡😡. I just have to laugh though when I see one person in particular who has attached some of my photo's stories etc to the wrong person - ie one photo and cert. in particular, was a photo of my Mum, which had been renamed as her younger sister Mary! This person has a huge number of people in her tree, around the 10,000 mark, and five or 6 of my own personally owned photos have also been renamed by her and added to someone totally unrelated to me! This woman is not only a name gatherer, she is a total menace! In the words of Donald Trump, she's a "Fake" Researcher!!
Are you sure your tree is private?
I have a private tree on Ancestry (It has always been private) and I get emails from people who see that I have a 'photo' of someone in my tree and could they have a copy.
The Ancestry search tells them I have a photo, but the tree is private and 'if they ask nicely' I might share. They cannot see the photo which is why they email me for a copy.
Unfortunately, everything I add to a person on my tree, Ancestry calls a photo. It could be a picture, BMD certificate of other document.
I thought if anyone can see your photos, then your tree isn't private.
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I agree Torre, - JB if your tree is private no one can see it unless you invite them. Check you haven’t made it public by mistake. Another way your stuff could be copied is if you’ve allowed anyone access to your tree, they’ve copied things and they have a public tree.
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Your really NEED to check this out. Because this sounds like your TREE is PUBLIC and if this is happening then get on to ANCESTRY and tell them..
I will seriously think about taking my stuff off if this is happening.
I have a few trees ONE that is for DNA testing and it has all the information BUT ABSOLUTELY NO RECORDS of any kind.. and I only OPEN it when requested.. it is attached to my DNA results so is accessible.
I have ONE FULL OF ALL MY own paid for and produced records that is PRIVATE AND NOT ALLOWED TO BE SHOWN AS A TREE OR FOUND ANYWHERE..
I am about to change laptops so will check if it is accessible before I set it up.
xin
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Been testing this -- and have changed the NAME of this one particular tree of mine..
It was easy to do and is NOW unrecognisable by anyone but me...
~S0 give it a go.. ~ change the name of your tree to one that ONLY YOU KNOW... and then it will be found by only you and those that you want to see it.. DO NOT let it have the names you are researching in the tree NAME ----
ancestry will do me for this.. but it seems a safe option.
then make the PRIVACY options CLEAR to NOT PUBLIC and not SEARCHABLE
xin
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A distant ancestor of mine had a public tree, and found people were copying photos etc. so she made it private. Guess what, people still got access, so she deleted it and then re-installed it under a different name. Then she asked me to see if I could get access. I couldn't even find it on public or private trees, so she's happy now, but neither of us are sure why it doesn't show up under private trees with a note to ask the tree owner politely if they'd like to share.
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The only occasion I got photo hints (which I could see clearly in the email) was from a private tree.
I believe any images posted to Ancestry automatically gives them licence to use them, private or not.
I'm fairly sure someone said that here, I can't remember what thread it was now.
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The only occasion I got photo hints (which I could see clearly in the email) was from a private tree.
I believe any images posted to Ancestry automatically gives them licence to use them, private or not.
I'm fairly sure someone said that here, I can't remember what thread it was now.
Pretty sure you're correct Sinann! I recall reading that somewhere in the Ancestry terms and conditions!
My tree is definitely private! Always has been. And so is the person's tree that originally copied and renamed my photos. She is a very distant name collecting relative, who has long since been removed from my invitation list!
None of my family surnames are in the name of any of my trees, I also host two others for relatives that I have done on their behalf, which are also private.
The few people that did have editing rights on my tree are no longer on my list!
Anyone else who is getting info or records from my tree is probably getting them through the little green leaves!
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The few people that did have editing rights on my tree are no longer on my list!
Yes, but if they copied from your tree that could now be circulating. The only way you could be 100% sure nothing is taken from your tree is not to allow anyone to share or see it.
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I don't have a sub on Ancestry only a DNA test, I put up a very limited tree it doesn't even have years let alone full dates but I get hints (usually have them turned off) I had a look today and as you can see I get photo hints from a tree I know is private. I can't see the tree but if the photo's weren't mine originally :D I could easily snip them from the list and use them.
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The few people that did have editing rights on my tree are no longer on my list!
Yes, but if they copied from your tree that could now be circulating. The only way you could be 100% sure nothing is taken from your tree is not to allow anyone to share or see it.
Yes, it has been circulating, but I really don't want to stop others from seeing it by request, and I don't really see the point of not allowing people to see my private tree anyway! They're going to get the info through the hint system anyway, No one has ever actually asked for access to view my tree, themselves, but I've offered each invitation myself if I thought it might help them out, and I've had invitations sent to me as well! Anyone who receives an invitation from me, has my permission to copy things, and they give me the same privileges! The name gatherer has been blocked now, so she certainly can't do me any more harm! 👍👍
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Very interesting - made me go and look at my tree which is private - I checked the settings - I wonder if you have yours ticked here as well.
I had to do this before one of my cousins would allow me some information.
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I've been in touch with Ancestry with reference to the geographical confusion which a couple of folk have mentioned, and they are aware of the problem and are working on solving it. Fran
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Very interesting - made me go and look at my tree which is private - I checked the settings - I wonder if you have yours ticked here as well.
I had to do this before one of my cousins would allow me some information.
Thanks for that Wiggy, I'll go and tick the box now. I only put my private tree on Ancestry as I have had my DNA done.
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Wiggy - where is that box you have ticked? I went to site preferences and there is no box like that.
This is what was available:
Ancestry Member Tree Hints
In addition to hints about historical records, you can receive hints from trees submitted by other Ancestry members that match ancestors in your tree(s).
Potential Ancestor Hints
You can receive hints in your tree(s) about people that might be your ancestors.
New Hint Notifications
When you have new hints for your family trees, a notification will appear at the top of the site. Click the leaf to see the new hints. (To manage emails you get about hints, go to the Email Settings page.)
Lizzie
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I went to privacy settings - I think! :-\
I belong to '.com.au'. I don't suppose it is different is it?
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Phew, I found it at last. I had to go to my tree, then into Privacy Settings, which is not what was suggested when I did a search to find that box! Oh well, Ancestry obviously don't want us to find these things out.
I'll ask my distant relative to check at her end to see if my tree is visible or not, although it does say it takes about a month! I'll also ask her what shows up on our DNA matches, whether my tree is locked or unlinked.
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This is what it says on Ancestry about searches in private trees:
'Private and searchable
When making a tree private, you may choose to allow people in your tree to be found in searches. Only the names, birth years, birthplaces, and any documents you upload) of deceased people in a private, searchable tree will appear in the search index. Photos will not appear, but limited information about the photo may appear (such as the name of the picture and the ancestor the image is tied to).
If the searching party then tries to view a photograph or other information about the person, they’ll receive a message saying that the image or other detail is in a private tree and that they need to contact that user to view it. The person searching can then contact you anonymously through the Ancestry messaging service, and you can decide whether or not to respond or give them access to your tree.'
This implies that other users should not be able to access photos in a private tree.
Pheno
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I have had my tree set to both private and unsearchable for some time now. My locations have flipped a few times, I put it down to an Ancestry glitch. The a week there I had a whole section of my tree with locations listed as "a town" rather than town name, strange.
The only times I have been upset by people having "my people" are the guy who has my dad fathering twins 5 years after he died and the other person who had me dead and insisted I could not provide enough proof to take my details off being shown publicly. Ancestry did though thankfully.
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and the other person who had me dead and insisted I could not provide enough proof to take my details off being shown publicly. Ancestry did though thankfully.
Did that person think they had received a message from beyond the grave? ???
This is like a modern variation of the old joke about an elderly person checking each morning that their obituary wasn't in the newspaper in case they had died without realising. Perhaps we should be searching for our own names on family trees online, then convince the instigator that " this report of my death was an exaggeration" (Mark Twain).
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Very interesting - made me go and look at my tree which is private - I checked the settings - I wonder if you have yours ticked here as well.
I had to do this before one of my cousins would allow me some information.
Thanks Wiggy for pointing out how to stop searches showing up for private trees.... I've now gone to Privacy Settings and ticked it!
I've had one person who copied every new piece of information I added to his tree without asking even after I'd made my tree private.... very frustrating and so rude just to presume he could add stuff.... he's not even a close relative either.
Hopefully this should put a stop to him!
Caroline
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Tinternet is WWW tinternet is for everyone to SEE --- no amount of clicking PRIVATE makes it so..
Cos it isnt.. its WWW --
somebody in Aus or Timbuctoo can read this as of NOW and somebody in Aus can make it their own.
I HAVE NO RIGHTS to this comment or anything else I place on the WORLD WIDE WEB
just a passing thought this morning..
xin
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If somebody really has got unauthorised access to somebody else's data on Ancestry, I am surprised that nobody from Ancestry has commented here. I would imagine that they do prowl about on many family history websites. Having worked in IT all my career, I think this will have a logical and reasonable explanation. Again, based on my experience, computers do go wrong. Software gets wrongly deployed. People forget to remove test data. People accidentally work on a live database rather than a test database. I'll admit to having made all of these mistakes myself as part of my learning.
Martin