A senior government official has sparked anger by advising internet users to give fake details to websites to protect their security.

Andy Smith, an internet security chief at the Cabinet Office, said people should only give accurate details to trusted sites such as government ones.

He said names and addresses posted on social networking sites "can be used against you" by criminals.

His advice was described by Labour MP Helen Goodman as "totally outrageous".

Ms Goodman, shadow culture minister, told BBC News: "This is the kind of behaviour that, in the end, promotes crime.

"It is exactly what we don't want. We want more security online. It's anonymity which facilitates cyber-bullying, the abuse of children.

"I was genuinely shocked that a public official could say such a thing."

It is exactly what we don't want. We want more security online. It's anonymity which facilitates cyber-bullying, the abuse of children

Anyone that uses "but what about the children" argument unless it is specifically about child protection of course. Should be smeared with jam and placed head first into an ants nest.

I've routinly given "organisationasking"@"my emaildomain" addresses for years. That way I can see who sells on and where the spam comes from

Now that's a good idea.

my.email+tag@gmail.com