Kawasaki Concours Forum

Mish mash => Open Forum => Topic started by: Gearhead82 on August 29, 2011, 09:18:47 AM

Title: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: Gearhead82 on August 29, 2011, 09:18:47 AM
It just seems to be a standard thing on any car/motorcycle forum I've been a part of, when people post pics of their vehicle they always cover their license plate or edit the picture so the numbers aren't visible.  What's the logic behind this?  Hundreds of people see my license plate on the road everyday.  Am I missing something?
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: Mad River Marc on August 29, 2011, 09:34:19 AM
So that somebody can't look up your home address by your plate number after you post about all the nice expensive farkles you just installed...
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: Mister Tee on August 29, 2011, 09:38:31 AM
Well, plus some of us don't want any personally identifiable information posted on message boards.
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: Son of Pappy on August 29, 2011, 10:05:15 AM
I think I hear a black helicopter over head ::)
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: yoman on August 29, 2011, 10:25:07 AM
So that somebody can't look up your home address by your plate number after you post about all the nice expensive farkles you just installed...

I can get up close and check out all of your farkles in the parking lot and get your license number too.
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: Mad River Marc on August 29, 2011, 10:35:56 AM
Yes you can, but many MORE can do it over the internet
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: Strawboss on August 29, 2011, 11:29:22 AM
Although there have been a few instances of agressive behavior here, I would doubt that somebody who attended a COG function would attempt to do harm to another Cogger using plate info, of course there are exceptions. The internet is WORLDWIDE. Some folks here have some very nice things, very expensive and valuable things, irreplacable things. I'm not going to help someone find out where I live, similar to my unlisted phone number. Any other fire/police/Gov't know what I mean?
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: Leo on August 29, 2011, 11:43:07 AM
Not everyone who scans these pages is "one of us".  You can witness that by the weird responses when you post a for sale ad.   Once something is on the internet, it is there for ever.  Dishonest people spend time on the internet piecing together information to get enough together to either break into a house or to steal identity.  I was an identity theft victom in 1996 and it was years (and a bunch of money) before everything got straightened out.    Several years ago, a nameless person showed me he could access the State license plate files and with a plate number he had all the owners official information.  I am still a little bit careful when I am on line.  I figure why make it easy for the bums?   
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: Gearhead82 on August 29, 2011, 11:49:24 AM
Although there have been a few instances of agressive behavior here, I would doubt that somebody who attended a COG function would attempt to do harm to another Cogger using plate info, of course there are exceptions. The internet is WORLDWIDE. Some folks here have some very nice things, very expensive and valuable things, irreplacable things. I'm not going to help someone find out where I live, similar to my unlisted phone number. Any other fire/police/Gov't know what I mean?

Is that why you have your location pinpointed on a map in your profile?  lol
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: Strawboss on August 29, 2011, 12:01:05 PM
Do you see an address?
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: B.D.F. on August 29, 2011, 01:51:54 PM
Hey, you are riding your bike all crooked like....

Brian

I think I hear a black helicopter over head ::)
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: B.D.F. on August 29, 2011, 01:54:36 PM
I blot mine out before posting photos because it is information no one needs to know. Not to be paranoid as I use my name and have posted my name more than once so obviously I am not trying to hide but my license plate number, just like my driver's license number, is information that cannot possibly help anyone and there is a possibility that it could cause harm. Besides all of that, it is really easy to cover the number up.

Brian

It just seems to be a standard thing on any car/motorcycle forum I've been a part of, when people post pics of their vehicle they always cover their license plate or edit the picture so the numbers aren't visible.  What's the logic behind this?  Hundreds of people see my license plate on the road everyday.  Am I missing something?
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: Son of Pappy on August 29, 2011, 01:55:21 PM
Hey, you are riding your bike all crooked like....

Brian
There was some speed involved ;D
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: Conrad on August 29, 2011, 01:59:21 PM
Is that why you have your location pinpointed on a map in your profile?  lol

Who says that's the true location?
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: VirginiaJim on August 29, 2011, 03:18:22 PM
Who's to say I am what I am....
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: Outback_Jon on August 29, 2011, 03:24:53 PM
Who's to say I am what I am....

Popeye?
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: VirginiaJim on August 29, 2011, 03:25:33 PM
I yam what I yam   :rotflmao:
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: VirginiaJim on August 29, 2011, 03:54:41 PM
Guys, you don't even need any info on the profile to find information about someone.  Information in the profile is an added bonus, of course.  We use aliases here for our names and we are creatures of habit so we may use those aliases in other Internet places as well.  It's easy enough to do a Google search on someone's alias and we find out possibly enough information on someone to gain their address, real name, line of work, and tax records.  It ain't that hard to do.  The point of this is to leave as little information as possible for someone to gain a foothold on identity theft or something much worse.   
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: Conrad on August 29, 2011, 04:01:39 PM
The names have been changed to protect the guilty.

Nice bulgy forearms there Popeye!
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: jim_de_hunter on August 29, 2011, 07:43:26 PM
Anybody can take a pic of the internet and post it anywhere.

So suppose some shady character uses my photo of my truck with my plate number to scam somebody.  Now said scammee is after me, supplies my name or plate to police or attorney general or something.  Why bother with it when I can simply rub out the plate when I show off my beautiful GMC Sierra.
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: ZG on August 29, 2011, 08:38:52 PM
You guys are really paranoid IMO, more people see my vehicle plates everyday on the road and parked wherever then they do on the internet, and they're local to me if they really did want to try and steal it...
 
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/imagesCAEGQ52C.jpg)
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: Mister Tee on August 29, 2011, 09:41:52 PM
Guys, you don't even need any info on the profile to find information about someone.  Information in the profile is an added bonus, of course.  We use aliases here for our names and we are creatures of habit so we may use those aliases in other Internet places as well.  It's easy enough to do a Google search on someone's alias and we find out possibly enough information on someone to gain their address, real name, line of work, and tax records.  It ain't that hard to do.  The point of this is to leave as little information as possible for someone to gain a foothold on identity theft or something much worse.

Yeah but why make it easy.  I'm actually not worried about someone on this board finding out who I am.  I'm more worried about people I know that I don't want knowing what I'm up to.  I mean, when all of your girlfriends and wives have the same Internet connectivity, that could be a problem, right?
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: Jaxter on August 29, 2011, 10:16:25 PM
Hey, you are riding your bike all crooked like....

Brian
figured out your address...it wasn't too difficult with all of the data that is supplied everytime someone goes to a website
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: stevewfl on August 29, 2011, 11:19:04 PM
(http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/ashevillesummer10/stevepaulamike.jpg)

Guess why her and mine tags are blurred heh
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: VirginiaJim on August 30, 2011, 04:10:40 AM
You guys are really paranoid IMO, more people see my vehicle plates everyday on the road and parked wherever then they do on the internet, and they're local to me if they really did want to try and steal it...
 
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/imagesCAEGQ52C.jpg)

I'm not paranoid....I'm just pessimistic.
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: JetJock on August 30, 2011, 04:27:04 AM
I mean, when all of your girlfriends and wives have the same Internet connectivity, that could be a problem, right?

Tell me about it.  :banghead:
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: martin_14 on August 31, 2011, 07:47:19 AM
I'm not paranoid....I'm just pessimistic.

A pessimistic is just an optimistic with more/better info.
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: VirginiaJim on August 31, 2011, 09:47:08 AM
Sounds about right....
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: XHarleyRider on August 31, 2011, 10:26:09 AM
Some of us on here are here are law enforcement, military or have some other type of job where security is an issue.  Sometimes our conversations might be a dead give away that your law enforcement or military or just have something worth stealing at your house. Putting your tag info on here draws a line right to your residence.  Criminals have contacts in the DMV and your tag info can lead to you being the victim of a burglary or worse.  Bad guys gather intel just like the good.   Although your tag is visible on the street the loose conversation that we have among friends in here is not.  You might not realize it but there is a lot of intel on these pages and it might be valuable to a criminal.  Why make it easy.....
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: Son of Pappy on August 31, 2011, 10:31:47 AM
Jim is so 'noid he wears a helmet in his avatar 8)
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: Conrad on August 31, 2011, 10:51:34 AM
Jim is so 'noid he wears a helmet in his avatar 8)

I hear that his cod piece is metal too.
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: XHarleyRider on August 31, 2011, 10:59:19 AM
Atleast Jim's helmet isn't made out of tinfoil like mine... ;D
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: VirginiaJim on August 31, 2011, 11:18:04 AM
All of my armour is made of the finest of metals and alloys, as is my sword.  No tin allowed.  It's required when dealing with forum issues.
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: VirginiaJim on August 31, 2011, 11:19:20 AM
Some of us on here are here are law enforcement, military or have some other type of job where security is an issue.  Sometimes our conversations might be a dead give away that your law enforcement or military or just have something worth stealing at your house. Putting your tag info on here draws a line right to your residence.  Criminals have contacts in the DMV and your tag info can lead to you being the victim of a burglary or worse.  Bad guys gather intel just like the good.   Although your tag is visible on the street the loose conversation that we have among friends in here is not.  You might not realize it but there is a lot of intel on these pages and it might be valuable to a criminal.  Why make it easy.....

That's why I prefer not to see anyone's info here....
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: Outback_Jon on August 31, 2011, 12:41:51 PM
Jim is so 'noid he wears a helmet in his avatar 8)

ATGATT.
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: ZG on August 31, 2011, 01:31:30 PM
I hear that his cod piece is metal too.

I heard it was wood...  :-X
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: B.D.F. on August 31, 2011, 02:42:27 PM
Any specific type of wood?

Brian


I heard it was wood...  :-X
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: VirginiaJim on August 31, 2011, 05:18:37 PM
Amboyna Burl from Southeast Asia if it were made of wood.
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: ZG on August 31, 2011, 09:22:29 PM
 ;D ;D ;D   :rotflmao:
 
I knew I could count on you two!  :chugbeer:
 
Title: Re: Why do people cover their license plate?
Post by: Conrad on September 01, 2011, 04:57:47 AM
Amboyna Burl from Southeast Asia if it were made of wood.

See? I was right, it's metal.