Separate response for CharlesCS:

First, thanks for your kind response. I have joined many sites to get mailings and guides to help as many folks as I can because of a sign which made a big impression on me a long time ago: "Knowledge Prevents Fear". It was on the entrance to the Israeli Army's Jump School. Oddly, it wasn't 100% successful. Something about standing #1 in my 'stick' at the open door, I think.

I believe people are afraid of the unknown. In the above case, it was fear of the known - gravity. Folks are afraid of becoming targets for unscrupulous people who intend to harm them. I don't blame them one little bit. I believe they are also uncertain about how some info revealed in various places might be put together to deduce password questions, etc.

For instance, I reveal the name of a pet. One of the "Security Questions" if you forget your password on some sites is "Your Pet's name"... etc.

So I try to bring people free software to guard their passwords, and update them about problems with common password keeping apps, and scams that might compromise that security.

Back to your question, "Is it genuine fear of people stealing your info or is it their own ignorance that scares most people?":

I believe it's probably both, with a nice little feedback loop between them. Nothing "bad" about being ignorant. The Internet has almost infinite resources to educate folks (one way or another, doc adds cynically). That answer it?

Thanks for all your info Doc. Your the Best.           

Charles has a good question and Doc has a good answer.  But the fly in the ointment is still privacy.  For those who have posted here, it is less of a concern (although still a concern) as they have been taught or learned tricks to protect things.

But the student, the mother on email, or the ditzy sister have not, do not and will not.  They will join or be asked to join by a friend/relative, and their life will be an open book to ID thieves or worse.

All we can do is educate them.  But too many will not have mentors who caution them against revealing too much.  The genie is out of the bottle.

I can attest to this. My greatest fear is the ocean. It's what I can't see underwater that scares me enough to keep me away from the ocean. I rarely go to the beach because I have seen how close things like jellyfish, stingrays and sharks can get and even in shallow waters they are hard to see. I also have a genuine fear of the Internet but the way i see it I already dove into this danger the day I registered on my first site online. Since then I have so many logins in my lastpass account I was actually going thru them wondering why I had some of them, which at that point I went ahead and canceled the accounts. It's not the fear that makes me wonder about the people that comment here, it's the whole "google is evil, beware" and "I would never  trust (whatever" site" comments that make me wonder because in order for them to have posted such comments, they had to already put their info out there to do so. Again, unless these people made up fake accounts that is.

I can agree with this. I just wish people would look at themselves and realize that they don't practice what they preach. To treat google (for example) like some kind of anti-christ all while registering on this site to say it kinda sounds ignorant to me (not saying joeuser.com will give out your info). Of course ignorance is not always bad as no one is born with knowledge, but ignorance by choice is and although my opinion may bring some negative replies, I would rather be honest than sugar coat things and add to the ignorance which in turn will only be more harmful to our security.

You mean try. I can't count the times people ignore my geek knowledge knowing I can save them a ton of headaches when it comes to their electronics. But some people would rather feel the pain first and then do something about it. Go figure.

That would be true if all sites were equally secure. In reality, they are not. That was part of my point in my post about why listening to IT professionals would be a smart thing for companies to do instead of relying on disclaimers.

Not trying to sound flippant, CharlesCS: Why not wear a mask which would allow you to enjoy the ocean which is much easier and safer "to dive into". Just as you take precautions on the Internet, precautions can be taken when going to the beach... For instance, the probability of sunburn vs. sharks and jellyfish and using sunscreen.

Not making fun of your fears. I'd never do that. Just suggesting a solution which might make more enjoyable options for you, my friend.

Sure!  Everyone should see what is eating them.

Depending on where you're at. Since you lived in the area, I feel sure you've been to the beach in South Carolina. Mask or not, you won't see more than a foot in front of you. Why do you think it took so long to find the Hunley? 

Now if you're talking about the Florida Keys...there's nothing I love more than spending the day diving in the Keys but you will hardly catch me in the ocean around where I live. Call me paranoid but I prefer to know if I'm going to be a tasty treat.

Nah. Just phobic. Actually, you're right in the critical respect - vision assuages the illusion of control. 

Ummm... 'cos the folks looking were from SC? lol.... j/k, CG1. Yep, the water is quite silty - I was disappointed when living there. And yes, FL beats the heck out of it.

Stardock's customers/site members' details/information is confidential. No-one's email address [for example] is communicated to anyone without their consent.

Privacy Legislation requires me, for example to be at a somewhat unique User Level to prevent my access to Users' banking details [because I am outside the US], yet other info is accessible as site Administrator.

Obviously, commercial practice requires legitimate email accounts, etc for the handling of product sales, but the majority of User names, etc. are pretty obviously fabricated....

Apart from here [obviously], I have online info/accounts with the likes of Amazon.US and Amazon.UK and likewise see the logic and benefits of such.

I cannot, however see how letting a Search Engine intent on marketting my 'Interests' to all and sundry can be a plus - to me.  It's sole benefit is to be a 'plus' to Google AND their Advertising customers.

Google+ Invitations Likely Spam

I am sure the same people will get caught out with this...

Google+ isn't a search engine. It's a social 'site' or service which is free to the user. For obvious reasons, it needs your real name and gender. That is so friends can find you... the gender is needed since some names are 'unisex' or common to males and females.

As Stardock supports WC, Google will support Google+ unless it simply turns out to cost too much. Does advertising help cover the costs of G+ and WC? Sure. Does Google figure there are plenty of potential ways to profit from G+ - undoubtedly. That doesn't mean it's opposed to your interests. 

But, it's clear that the users will gain benefits from a site/service which offers or shall offer more than facebook. In the end, the users and Google will see if it's worth it, respectively, and take the indicated course.  

Google+ is Google just like  Gmail is Google.

They have exactly no reason to exist other than to gather information suitable for Google's clients aka Advertisers.

How 'successful' they are depends on how 'freely' they appeal.

No problem with that. I'm not afraid to admit my fears. I'm afraid of cemetery too. Sure, I could use a mask but that will only allow me to see that which I am already afraid of. I avoid the ocean because I can't see the possible sharks down there, the mask will only scare me more. LOL. But as CarGuy said, not every ocean is clear. But even if, I still don't like it. Don't get me wrong, it's beautiful down there, I have used masks before to see the small fish and the coral reefs but I still don't like being down there too often. By the same token I would avoid the African plains and the jungles of Brazil.

Keep in mind you control what you see on your stream and who sees what you post. If spammers wanted to get your email they would get it regardless if your account was private considering you're likely to use it to sign in on different sites. Even Joeuser gets cluttered with spammers on weekends, it's inevitable since, for now, it's part of the Internet whether we want it or not.

I know they are confidential but then so was the info on the Sony site and the many others who got hacked. Not to mention one can use the email (as an option) to log in and some people just are not always careful with this info in public places.

BTW, I was just looking at my profile and I noticed my gender option was blank. When I went to change that I noticed several interesting options in there. Very interesting set of options. LOL.

You have to make an effort to maintain your gender.....

If you don't use it it'll fall off....

That's not what my dad told me.  He told me to leave it alone... "it'll drop off when its ripe"