Last Names When Signing Up For Stuff? A question about so much info

Now, as a kid (well, I still am, are... Which is it? Anyway, I still am a kid) I was always taught "Never tell anyone your last name or address online!" and now all these websites are asking for last names and addresses... Why? Is it just if you upload illegal content they want to track you down I guess? I'm new to computer web hosting I guess, but it seems like geocities never asked for that...Thanks.

It would probably be there if they need to contact you. Rarely happens if it is free hosting. If you KNOW for SURE it is a trusted company it would be ok to put your last name in. I still wouldnt put my address though. You never know what will/can happen.Otherwise if it is not a trusted company just dont bother with it or use fake information.

i should have put, use fake info if you want to be secure

i should have put, use fake info if you want to be secure

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I suppose it also depends if your name can easily traces. If you have a name of Jessica Smith that that is unlikely since both names are popular. I wouldn't bother giving out any info. Why should you? If you really need to give out personal info, e.g. if you're buying paid hosting, then confirm with your parent/guardian. No point in risking it....

I would also say "depends on what you want to be seen".For my friends, I am proud to show that I am the owner of my site, and that the name displayed is my real name. By the way, a lot of sites also want to warn you about something : "please do not post pornographic things here" or something similar. And you must acknowledge.So, if you sign as "john doe", you clearly say that you don't want to follow the rules.Of course, if you are asked "why do you give fake names", you still can answer "I'm not sure about the honesty of this site". By the way, remember the antispam tricks, and give e-mail addresses on mailers like mailinator.comRegardsYordan

They ask you for your last name because if you post something illegal on your website the police should know who owns the site and not consider the hosting company as liable for your mistakes. So I guess that if you provide them with a fake name it's just as good for the company.

So I guess that if you provide them with a fake name it's just as good for the company.

Perfectly exact. If you use a fake name in order to create your site and the police finally catches you, the fake name prooves that since the very beginning you knew that you were going to do something illegal.