Worried about showing your license plate?

[Yoddha]

I found an article for all of you who are scared that showing your license plate on the forums will lead to someone accessing your personal information. It's a good read and a good laugh...enjoy.

http://jalopnik.com/why-do-we-always...net-1691298199

[grantmax]

Not a bad article but he failed to address the reason M3Post-ers obscure their plates. Johnny Law.

Things I don't want to do:

1. Talk about traveling at high rates of speed;
2. ... in my vehicle with potentially illegal modifications;
3. ... followed by photographs of said vehicle;
4. ... with a clear identifying number (license plate) in view.

While it seems like a long shot, I'm sure we all would prefer to keep this type of anonymity in our pocket. You know, just in case.

[Flying Ace]

people who go out of their way to cover their plate number is missing this point:

EVERYONE ALREADY SEES YOUR LICENSE PLATE NUMBER EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE DOWN THE STREET! Yes, folks, that's right: every time you drive your vehicle on a public road, every human with eyes can see your license plate number. And guess what? You're still alive, living your life, and nobody has figured out any of your passwords, even though you have an unprotected file on your Desktop that includes all of them.

[burtonsbs5114]

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

people who go out of their way to cover their plate number is missing this point:

EVERYONE ALREADY SEES YOUR LICENSE PLATE NUMBER EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE DOWN THE STREET! Yes, folks, that's right: every time you drive your vehicle on a public road, every human with eyes can see your license plate number. And guess what? You're still alive, living your life, and nobody has figured out any of your passwords, even though you have an unprotected file on your Desktop that includes all of them.

That is the craziest thing I've read all day. So your telling me people can read my plate?? Seriously broski, put down the crack.

[Ezio]

I think its ok to show a plate for the most part.

But if i have a youtube video of me racing a 911 doing 150MPH on a highway with one million views i would simply rather have my plate blurred. So i can sleep better at night.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Don't like to show my licence plate on speed cams !

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by burtonsbs5114

That is the craziest thing I've read all day. So your telling me people can read my plate?? Seriously broski, put down the crack.

Actually only do pure white coke now. But yes, people can read your plates, RANDOM people.

[Rat3d ///M]

My concerns dont come from people being able to hack my bank account with my license plate number. Thats ridiculous, though I wouldnt put it passed someone, somewhere to be able to hack into the DMV and get any information they have (its still not a concern for me though). The only reason I might want to blur my plate online (though I still dont because I just cant be bothered) is because I dont want people to associate my car being posted online with me in person. I typically like to keep my internet life and real life separate for various reasons. Posting pics of your car with an identifiable item like a license plate makes that a tad difficult.

That is all.

[rrueizhig]

I think its ok to show a plate for the most part.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by ||||||||||

My concerns dont come from people being able to hack my bank account with my license plate number. Thats ridiculous, though I wouldnt put it passed someone, somewhere to be able to hack into the DMV and get any information they have (its still not a concern for me though). The only reason I might want to blur my plate online (though I still dont because I just cant be bothered) is because I dont want people to associate my car being posted online with me in person. I typically like to keep my internet life and real life separate for various reasons. Posting pics of your car with an identifiable item like a license plate makes that a tad difficult.

That is all.

why would they go through the DMV just to target YOU? If they hack DMV, they would grab everyone's information. Secondly, the DMV does not hold our SSNs anymore. You'll need multiple points of PII AND other historical personal info to get into your back account.

Besides, you're missing the point, your plate is displayed to the public, EVERY MINUTE your car is outside. If they want to be bothered to look for your specific address, why you? You ONLY own an M3. Why not go down to he country club and figure out the info for some Ferrari owners? Isn't that a bigger target?

[Rat3d ///M]

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

why would they go through the DMV just to target YOU? If they hack DMV, they would grab everyone's information. Secondly, the DMV does not hold our SSNs anymore. You'll need multiple points of PII AND other historical personal info to get into your back account.

Besides, you're missing the point, your plate is displayed to the public, EVERY MINUTE your car is outside. If they want to be bothered to look for your specific address, why you? You ONLY own an M3. Why not go down to he country club and figure out the info for some Ferrari owners? Isn't that a bigger target?

I don't think anyone would go through the DMV to target me, hence I feel it's a non-issue and not of any concern to me. All I said was I do believe there is someone, somewhere who has the ability to hack into the DMV and get any information they have on individuals. The second part of my post stated my concerns, which have nothing to do with hacking into the DMV.

Ill state it again: I typically like to keep my online forum/internet life and my real life separate. Posting a picture of my plate online makes it hard to do so. Anyone that has seen pictures of my car can identify me driving around town. That said, my concerns for this privacy are very minute, essentially non-existent in fact, which is why I don't take the time to obscure my plate when I post pictures of my car. I was simply stating this is my only concern where posting my plate number online lie, NOT with someone stealing my SSN and opening up a JCPenney card under my name.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by ||||||||||

I don't think anyone would go through the DMV to target me, hence I feel it's a non-issue and not of any concern to me. All I said was I do believe there is someone, somewhere who has the ability to hack into the DMV and get any information they have on individuals. The second part of my post stated my concerns, which have nothing to do with hacking into the DMV.

Ill state it again: I typically like to keep my online forum/internet life and my real life separate. Posting a picture of my plate online makes it hard to do so. Anyone that has seen pictures of my car can identify me driving around town. That said, my concerns for this privacy are very minute, essentially non-existent in fact, which is why I don't take the time to obscure my plate when I post pictures of my car. I was simply stating this is my only concern where posting my plate number online lie, NOT with someone stealing my SSN and opening up a JCPenney card under my name.

yeah I agree with you on keeping a low online profile. I often see young kids, athletes and non-celebrities get in trouble with their online profiles.

At one point when you put too much information out there, people will take advantage of it, at the very least it just makes you look like a fool to someone, like a potential employer (or business client).

I too try my best to decouple my personal life with my professional life.

[jra85]

I'm guilty of blurring plates, but I do it because the reach of the internet is far greater than the number of people on the road that see it in person. There's probably a smaller sample of people who would want to use my plate number with nefarious intent on public roads than in a car-focused forum, etc.

[roastbeef]

I never understood blurring plates either. If you aren't doing anything illegal, you have nothing to worry about.

[1MOREMOD]

I solved this problem in a novel way. Don't have a plate.

[Yoddha]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

I solved this problem in a novel way. Don't have a plate.

Lol agreed

[1MOREMOD]

No really I don't have a plate on my m3

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

No really I don't have a plate on my m3

Because track car .

[1MOREMOD]

Doh you caught me. RACE car

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by jra85

I'm guilty of blurring plates, but I do it because the reach of the internet is far greater than the number of people on the road that see it in person. There's probably a smaller sample of people who would want to use my plate number with nefarious intent on public roads than in a car-focused forum, etc.

Again, that nefarious intent would be..?

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

I never understood blurring plates either. If you aren't doing anything illegal, you have nothing to worry about.

I now have your SSN and your mother's stripper name....

[Rat3d ///M]

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

I now have your SSN and your mother's stripper name....

Did you get her measurements? Gotta make sure she will fit in the trunk.