Why do people cover/blur their license plates when posting pictures online?

[JCsTruck]

They can run it while sitting behind you at the light.

True, but the odds of someone taking advantage of the situation go up by a larger factor when it is on the internet for everyone to see from all over the world so your risk goes up from low to very high. ?

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[m_bt54]

I don’t

 

[Lricaud81]

I thought that was your truck I saw on SWAMP PEOPLE :^) ' saw you're in LA '

Lmao. Shoot they crazy doing all that. If you saw my truck you saw me because I'm not going chase no Gator. Lol.

 

[JCsTruck]

As a former LEO who had statutory authority to access to LEIN (Law Enforcement Information Network) in Michigan for lawful purposes and in the exercise of my duties, with which I could enter a vehicle registration (plate) and retrieve personal information, I challenge you to describe how anyone other than those authorized by state or federal law can legally "run" a license plate and get personal information about the registered owner.

Challenge not accepted ?. How could it be done, IDK ??‍ but then again I’m not a criminal nor am I smart enough to figure that out so I‘ll use some common sense instead and say to myself “if I don't make it easy for someone to steal my information then I’m less likely to be the target”. ? Heck, you could be corrupt and be that guy!

With all the cyber crime, scams, phishing scams, and recent infiltration into our vulnerable hackable government systems, I suppose anything could happen. Heck, I’ve had my debit card information stolen several times in the past just by someone walking by me with some kind of skim device that can steal the information from my card in my wallet. ?

 

[roadPilot]

Challenge not accepted ?. How could it be done, IDK ??‍ but then again I’m not a criminal nor am I smart enough to figure that out so I‘ll use some common sense instead and say to myself “if I don't make it easy for someone to steel my information then I’m less likely to be the target”. ? Heck, you could be corrupt and be that guy!

With all the cyber crime, scams, phishing scams, and recent infiltration into our vulnerable hackable government systems, I suppose anything could happen. Heck, I’ve had my debit card information stolen several times in the past just by someone walking by me with some kind of skim device that can steal the information from my card in my wallet. ?

Short answer: You can't.

 

[Old Hat]

I too have little concern posting my real plate here and have done so.

I have more issues with having a vanity plate. Too easy to remember and later pick out on the road, around town, or in a parking lot. Run of the mill plates with random numbers are difficult to remember. I like that.

 

[JCsTruck]

Short answer: You can't.

So you think its perfectly safe and a good idea to put that information on the Internet for everyone to see?

 

[roadPilot]

So you think its perfectly safe and a good idea to put that information on the Internet for everyone to see?

Yes. See my previous post.

You're J*** W*** with Tim*******, right?

 

[dochawk]

Extra Virgin Olive Oil works the best :^)

Whale oil.

Accept no substitute!

 

[Nobuddy]

Insurance companies already know your license plate number and love to collect data for any excuse to raise premiums or settle claims to their benefit. So depends on what you are doing and what site you might be on. I sure wouldn't be on a race track showing a license plate.

 

[gnikdaor]

Challenge not accepted ?. How could it be done, IDK ??‍ but then again I’m not a criminal nor am I smart enough to figure that out so I‘ll use some common sense instead and say to myself “if I don't make it easy for someone to steal my information then I’m less likely to be the target”. ? Heck, you could be corrupt and be that guy!

With all the cyber crime, scams, phishing scams, and recent infiltration into our vulnerable hackable government systems, I suppose anything could happen. Heck, I’ve had my debit card information stolen several times in the past just by someone walking by me with some kind of skim device that can steal the information from my card in my wallet. ?

This is my line of thinking as well. Why make it easier for some hacker or scammer? The internet is teeming with scum, hackers, terrorist groups, and state actors (think China, for example), just scouring the world wide web looking for information and things they can use, for nefarious reasons.

We all know that locking the doors to our homes, locking our vehicle doors and keeping valuables out of sight, having situational awareness in public, etc., are common sense. We also know that although these things are helpful, it will not stop a determined criminal. If they want what is in your home, in your vehicle, the vehicle itself, or to mug you, they will. Yet, very few of us fail to take the above listed precautions, because we are hoping that whatever criminal crosses our paths on any given day is a lazy criminal, and will move on to an easier target.

I know that some rando can jot down my plate number at the next red light, but I will not plaster it all over the interwebs to make it easy to find. Anyone that does, it is their choice to make. YMMV.

 

[JScaro]

Yes. See my previous post.

You're J*** W*** with Tim*******, right?

I know, people worried about their license plate on the internet but put the Real name, State Location and job for profiles.
With a quick google search you can find out A LOT with that.

Shit, I better change my profile.........

 

[roadPilot]

Insurance companies already know your license plate number and love to collect data for any excuse to raise premiums or settle claims to their benefit.

So let me get this straight: You think insurance companies employ people to peruse random internet discussion forums, run license plates (one of the 283,000,000 registered vehicles in the United States) from pictures posted online to see if, by chance, you are one of THEIR insured customers, and then subsequently find a reason, also posted by you online, to raise your annual premium for said vehicle?

Boy, I've heard a lot of chit in my lifetime, but this one takes the cake.

 

[roadPilot]

This is my line of thinking as well. Why make it easier for some hacker or scammer? The internet is teeming with scum, hackers, terrorist groups, and state actors (think China, for example), just scouring the world wide web looking for information and things they can use, for nefarious reasons.

We all know that locking the doors to our homes, locking our vehicle doors and keeping valuables out of sight, having situational awareness in public, etc., are common sense. We also know that although these things are helpful, it will not stop a determined criminal. If they want what is in your home, in your vehicle, the vehicle itself, or to mug you, they will. Yet, very few of us fail to take the above listed precautions, because we are hoping that whatever criminal crosses our paths on any given day is a lazy criminal, and will move on to an easier target.

I know that some rando can jot down my plate number at the next red light, but I will not plaster it all over the interwebs to make it easy to find. Anyone that does, it is their choice to make. YMMV.

All of this ignores the fact that finding out the personal information for the registered owner of a vehicle having nothing more than the license plate that hangs off the back of your vehicle is not something anyone other than law enforcement or other persons authorized by state law can legally or easily do. If you think some "hacker" is looking up license plates found in pictures posted on the internet using some secret squirrel hacker "license plate database", I've got some oceanfront property in Montana you might be interested in.

Wow. Just. Wow.

 

[roadPilot]

Shit, I better change my profile.........

Just don't change your actual occupation. I wish I could get paid to drink beer! LOL.

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