License privacy?

Are there security concerns with displaying my MC tags in a Craig's list or a classified here?
I see some guys blur them out (how do you do that, btw).
Could it be used for some dark purpose?
Probably another dumb question...
Thanks!

As far as I'm concerned it's paranoia. I never obscure my plates.

If you ask me it's unnecessary. License plates aren't exactly private, when you're on the road anyone with eyes can see them.

Some people worry about fraud on a similar bike to the one that you can see the plate on. I dunno.

But to obscure it; a rag or duct tape is old school! Or, use the 'blur' or 'smear' tool in a Photoshop or Paint program . Or you can cut and paste a blob over the plate.

Programs like Photoshop have various blurring, smudging, and swirling tools. Other image editors have similar features.

Pretty much what I thought, but then I sometimes miss the big picture.

Depends on who your hiding from I guess.

you're.

Here's another thread about the topic.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=800744

I always figured it was a layer of privacy so people couldn't tie your screen name directly to who you are. I don't really care either way as long as the photo doesn't show both my plate and some sort of illegal activity simultaneously.

Beware the blurring tools. At least some of them can be reversed. You're probably better off cutting out the section and replacing it with something else.

The difference between the plate being visible IRL and on the Internet is that only a few thousand people will see it IRL, and they're all local to you. On the Internet, it's visible to 7 billion people, and if one of them decides to do something illegal with the info, you'll probably not be able to identify or prosecute him.

What I really find ironic is some people will obscure their license plate, but then provide a VIN (presumably for Carfax purposes). I have no issue with displaying the plate, and really don't have an issue with providing a VIN. However, I have seen car thieves use other vehicle's VINs to make a fake VIN plate so that it returns as a valid VIN. Even still, I would provide my VIN to a prospective buyer unless I had a bad feeling about them. I have no idea what somebody could use your license plate for.

But much like license plates, your VIN is almost as visible when parked.

If its my own tag, I don't bother obscuring. If it belongs to someone else, and isn't the point of the photo, I do obscure.

I only blur mine when I blow through a toll booth

Post a naughty pic of the SO with her face blurred and if that photo makes it down to the basement of the internet she will be doxed within HOURS.

Anon can work very quickly when it wants to.

Associating your username & plate number devalues the amount of money that google or facebook could sell your personal information for.

Don't advertise your plates, people have lost cars, bikes and a lot more by crooks
Having a plate number, guess what if its registered to home address they now know where you live

And that can't be done just by seeing your plate on the road while you're in the vehicle?

Just about anybody sophisticated enough to do a plate lookup to get address information probably has other ways of causing harm.

Do you have documentation of this ever happening? Even once?

Jamie

Right. Not to mention that this crook is local. I don't think looking on the internet for bikes to steal would be as efficient as going to a place where bikes frequent (like a dealership) and writing down plate numbers.