Cropping or blurring your license plate in pics??

[jsmarine]

Just curious, and not trying to be critical, but why do I see so many photos of 4runners on here with the license plate cropped out, or blurred? What sort of harmful information can someone get by seeing your plate number? I mean, we drive around all day for the world to see our plates...

Again, not trying to criticize anyone, just wondering. :shrug:

 

[MikesToy]

Anyone can get your info (name, address, phone number, etc) from another website just having to know your license plate number. Kinda like protecting yourself from identity theft or maybe from those stalkers out there in this crazy world. Remember, this is the internet.

 

[Jed]

Rumor has it that there was a guy who had a mega dollar system installed in his car. He took detailed pictures of all his components and how everything was wired. He also took a few exterior pics of the car which happened to show his license plates.

A short time later, someone broke into his car and stole everything inside. They eventually caught the thief, who eventually admitted to seeing the car online and running the plates to get the address of the owner.

Moral of the story----- If you post pics of your ride with anything of value in it, you might be better off blacking out the plate number.

 

[PlanetAlaska-]

I don't bother blacking out my license plate on pictures.

What's the difference between seeing a license plate in real life or on the internet? There are millions of license plates in the streets. Plus the thief targetting my car (if seen on the internet), will need to be in my area to do me harm. Chances of having a problem are low (but do exist).

 

[broncosi]

What's the difference between seeing a license plate in real life or on the internet?

Uhh exactly what Jed said? You don't drive around in real life with pictures attached to your windows with your T4R.ORG signature on it posting exactly whats inside it.

 

[harper7]

Very distrustful and suspicious of others.
Concern that other people have hidden motives
Expectation that they will be exploited by others
Inability to work together with others
Doubt the commitment, loyalty, or trustworthiness of others, believing others are using or deceiving them
Social isolation
Are reluctant to confide in others or reveal personal information due to a fear that the information will be used against them
Detachment
Read hidden meanings in the innocent remarks or casual looks of others


If you have any of these symptoms or if you own a Ferrari F430 and live in the Bronx then you should probably block out your plates.......immediately!

In Texas we have the right to carry and bear arms!

 

[96743runner]

Yeah, basically what everyone said before. I don't care if members on this forum see my plate numbers, but this is the internet and pretty much any opportunistic thief or stalker may be lurking.

 

[manhunter]

I think the blocking out plate numbers is an older practice when there were not more sophisticated ways to get your identity, same reason the practice of using "user names" instead of your real name. All just really a safety measure to not openly give away your identity, address and location. Today, if somone really had intent to get your identity from the internet with malicious intentions, they would not bother with your plate number, ...., they would key in on other things. However, just for peace of mind, if it makes you feel safer, then I suggest doing it. I don't worry about it as I am not concerned about anybody coming to my house, and if they try to tap into my bank or credit accounts, they will be thoroughly disappointed.

 

[Jed]

I think the blocking out plate numbers is an older practice when there were not more sophisticated ways to get your identity, same reason the practice of using "user names" instead of your real name. All just really a safety measure to not openly give away your identity, address and location. Today, if somone really had intent to get your identity from the internet with malicious intentions, they would not bother with your plate number, ...., they would key in on other things. However, just for peace of mind, if it makes you feel safer, then I suggest doing it. I don't worry about it as I am not concerned about anybody coming to my house, and if they try to tap into my bank or credit accounts, they will be thoroughly disappointed.

Well, running a license plate number is easy for a lot of people, myself included. So all I need is a plate number to find out someone's real name and address. So if you posted a picture of your plate, I could find out who you are within a few minutes. But without that info, I would have no idea of your true identity. As a member of this forum, I'm not able to access your IP address, so that doesn't help me at all. How could I possibly get your info from an anonymous message forum? Maybe it can be done, but MOST people wouldn't have the first clue how to do it. Besides, if I really wanted to remain anonymous on an online message forum, I think it would be very easy to do.

 

[AKAndy]

Very distrustful and suspicious of others.
Concern that other people have hidden motives
Expectation that they will be exploited by others
Inability to work together with others
Doubt the commitment, loyalty, or trustworthiness of others, believing others are using or deceiving them
Social isolation
Are reluctant to confide in others or reveal personal information due to a fear that the information will be used against them
Detachment
Read hidden meanings in the innocent remarks or casual looks of others

If I understand the intended meaning of your post, it sounds like you think that the above thoughts and assumptions could only be coming from someone who is paranoid and delusional. I would argue that with regard to dealing with people you don't know on the internet, most of the above is exactly how one should act, with the exception of "Inability to work with others", "Social isolation", and "Detachment". There are a lot of deceitful people on the internet ready to exploit any personal information you may put out there, and it would be naive to think otherwise.

 

[manhunter]

Well, running a license plate number is easy for a lot of people, myself included. So all I need is a plate number to find out someone's real name and address. So if you posted a picture of your plate, I could find out who you are within a few minutes. But without that info, I would have no idea of your true identity. As a member of this forum, I'm not able to access your IP address, so that doesn't help me at all. How could I possibly get your info from an anonymous message forum? Maybe it can be done, but MOST people wouldn't have the first clue how to do it. Besides, if I really wanted to remain anonymous on an online message forum, I think it would be very easy to do.

Ok, run the license plate and you get a name and address. That would be beneficial if someone wanted to pay you a visit, come rip off your 4runner, or see what they can come up with on just your name. However, if their intent is to steal your identity or access accounts, they would do all that through the computer. How on this forum, or any other? I could give a few examples of how, but that would be irresponsible on my part to do such, in case anybody else on the forum had the urge to try it out. I don't think these forums are too high risk for identity theft, ...., as opposed to public networking such as facebook, myspace, and some of those. But if taking measures to cover your bases, such as blacking out your license plate, makes one feel safer and more secure, then do it.

 

[Jed]

Ok, run the license plate and you get a name and address. That would be beneficial if someone wanted to pay you a visit, come rip off your 4runner,

Right, that's what I was trying to say. Breaking into a vehicle is really the only reason not to post pics of your plate. Other than that, probably not a big deal.

 

[JeremyH]

You don't drive around in real life with pictures attached to your windows with your T4R.ORG signature on it posting exactly whats inside it.

I do.....I usually just smear a big handful of mud across my plates so that NOBODY can see them.

In Texas we have the right to carry and bear arms!

You gotta love the Castle Doctrine.....shoot first, sort out the details later!

 

[Duhockey]

However, just for peace of mind, if it makes you feel safer, then I suggest doing it. I don't worry about it as I am not concerned about anybody coming to my house, and if they try to tap into my bank or credit accounts, they will be thoroughly disappointed.

LOL... Hahaha, same for me... good luck getting anything of value from me! I would have to own something valuable first!

 

[Duhockey]

Right, that's what I was trying to say. Breaking into a vehicle is really the only reason not to post pics of your plate. Other than that, probably not a big deal.

but those same people could see me driving down the road, write down my license plate and come steal my 4runner anyways?!?!

whats the difference?? there are more people with bad intents closer to me, driving down the road than here on T4R or any other board...

I blurred my first photo or two then gave up, cuz its pointless... If you have a nice car, people will either respect it or they will be jealous and try to break/steal it. Either way, its more in danger sitting in a parking lot than it is in a picture here.

 

[harper7]

If you have a nice car, people will either respect it or they will be jealous and try to break/steal it.

Either way, its more in danger sitting in a parking lot than it is in a picture here.

Multiply that by at least 6.5 million ....that's the population of the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex. What is there like, 20-25 malls around here.

Jed... Right, that's what I was trying to say. Breaking into a vehicle is really the only reason not to post pics of your plate. Other than that, probably not a big deal.

If thieves have access to inside information to the Dept. of Transportion or Police Depts. to run your plates ,do you really think they would have a theft ring stealing 4Runners or there mod parts?Really?????

I would venture to say a very high percentage of 4Runner owners on forums are the outdoors type ......the type that own guns . Thieves, if they plan on living long, generally choose easy targets ,not ones with guns! We should do a poll of how many on T4R.org members are gun owners and enthusiast....Somebody??

I have been on Porsche and BMW forums for 11 years now and this subject has come up 1000 times and argued both ways.Some of them,not me, have alot better arguement for blocking out there plates because of the value of their rides and their parts.Still, I have never seen one thread of evidence of internet crime rings running license plate numbers.There are just alot easier ways.

The symptoms I gave in an earlier post are for paranoid personality disorder also known as PPD. A real psychiatric condition and alot of people have it to varying degrees.If your scared to put your 4runner license plate on the internet. Chances are you either have PPD or your are ignorant to the fact that NOBODY cares what your 4Runner license plate number is, unless you are a wanted felon.
PPD or Ignorant.....PPD is treatable,so I was just being nice.

 

[Uneek]

Some people disclose their location and the extent of mods and upgrades added to their vehicle. While I believe members here have no intentions of stealing from another member, the same can't be said about the less than honest. Providing a license plate just gives theives a solid confirmation that's the particular vehicle with "the loot." I'm sure there are some who scour forums looking for cars to rip off.

 

[JB.]

Wow, I've learned the symptoms of Paranoid Personality Disorder and Pompous Poster Disorder all in one thread!

 

[Jed]

[/I]


If thieves have access to inside information to the Dept. of Transportion or Police Depts. to run your plates ,do you really think they would have a theft ring stealing 4Runners or there mod parts?Really?????

I would venture to say a very high percentage of 4Runner owners on forums are the outdoors type ......the type that own guns . Thieves, if they plan on living long, generally choose easy targets ,not ones with guns! We should do a poll of how many on T4R.org members are gun owners and enthusiast....Somebody??

I have been on Porsche and BMW forums for 11 years now and this subject has come up 1000 times and argued both ways.Some of them,not me, have alot better arguement for blocking out there plates because of the value of their rides and their parts.Still, I have never seen one thread of evidence of internet crime rings running license plate numbers.There are just alot easier ways.

The symptoms I gave in an earlier post are for paranoid personality disorder also known as PPD. A real psychiatric condition and alot of people have it to varying degrees.If your scared to put your 4runner license plate on the internet. Chances are you either have PPD or your are ignorant to the fact that NOBODY cares what your 4Runner license plate number is, unless you are a wanted felon.
PPD or Ignorant.....PPD is treatable,so I was just being nice.

Sorry, but you must be ignorant if you think it takes a crime ring to run a license plate number. Hell, it doesn't even take access to law enforcement. A good friend of mine is a Security Guard at a local community college. He (and everyone else that works in his office) can run a plate on his work PC and get the name/address of the vehicle owner. Sure, they are not supposed to run plates for personal reasons, but do you really think it doesn't happen? Really? LOL.

You must also be ignornant if you think that only 4Runner owners read this forum (same with any other automotive forum). It's already been documented that people use information posted on message forums to steal stuff from vehicles.....it's a fact. So you can sit at your computer all day and tell people they are paranoid if you want, but an ounce of prevention...well, you know. LOL. So go ahead and post up pictures all of your plates, nobody is stopping you. Just don't bash people who choose to block them out, because they are probably not paranoid, but rather a bit more intelligent than you.

 

[Jed]

but those same people could see me driving down the road, write down my license plate and come steal my 4runner anyways?!?!

whats the difference?? .

Big difference...actually a HUGE difference. See, I'll break it down for you in more understandable terms:

So I have $5000 worth of audio equipment in my car. I decided to take detailed pics of the installation, including all major components and how they are wired. Then I post the pics on a message forum. I also include an exterior pic of my car, just for good measure. One day Johnny Criminal is browsing the forum and comes across my post with the pictures. He sees that I'm from NY, and he's also from NY. He calls his buddy who has access to DMV records and learns my name and address. Now he has everything he needs to steal my stuff. Not only does he know where my car is parked at night, but he also knows EXACTLY what's inside and even how it is all connected. I've basically given him all the information he needed by posting pics of everything, including my plate number.

Think it doesn't happen? Got news for you.....it does. And it has. And it will continue to happen as long as people continue be careless.

Now how is that the same as some random guy writing down your plate number on the road?