Should we blank VRNs in adverts?

[bam_bam]

THIS.

dont underestimate just how exposed you become on the internet from the tiniest thing

I work in computer forensics and I pursue ethical hacking as part of my skill-set. I'm not as hands-on as I used to be but I'm testing an algorithm at the moment that can identify individuals by text content. The way you write will become your digital fingerprint, there are no legal precedents yet but it doesn't mean the badmen aren't using it the wild. Just know that the science is very solid and I'd expect this tech to be used soon in stalking and cyber-bully cases, after that it will become useful in netusage profiling, you know, to sell you sh1t you don't need.
I digress.
So, I can extract all posts by HYFR (I'd probably have to script that but I could do it manually), then I can use that text extraction with something like the X1 tool, this would then find all content responding to HYFR's writing signature - linkedin, facebook, other forums and Instawhore - you name it. How long does it take? About 10mins leg work, the rest would be computational. Of course, I'd never do this as it's unethical and HYFR is a mate, I'm just highlighting a point. You'd be very surprised by what you can learn about someone when armed with an Internet connection. Posting your VRM is the last of your worries but consider this, if a criminal wanted to clone a plate for a black B7 RS4 'loon, would it be quicker to venture out into the public and wait to cross paths with a black RS4 or would it be a sure bet to do a little Google and end up at RS246 - The World's #1 Audi R, S and RS enthusiasts website? Hell, the crim could even do the Googling on their phone while following the black RS4 they'll be cloning the plate for...

[F15HAR]

I agree with the fact that one can never be too careful with what is posted on the Internet, however surely cloning a vehicle would require more than just the VRM...? Otherwise it's not really cloning it's just a car with a false plate displayed.
Having seen the vast number of customer cars in the car park this afternoon I would imagine any Audi dealership would be a fair bet for criminals looking for VRM's and matching VIN's.

[bam_bam]

They typically just use a clone VRM to move a car around the country or to pull off a job. No one has really said anything about a VIN yet.

[S4WON]

Bam, i'm impressed with your job. I had you down as a hitman or the leader of some columbian cartel. I am slightly disappointed to be honest.

[bam_bam]

You're impressively disappointed, I'll take that. I actually work more in Electronic Data Disclosure and other parts of the EDRM these days. I've hired guys to do the digital forensics stuff. It sounds exciting, everyone thinks "oooooh, like CSI?" - nope, I say, that's all bullshit. I've done a lot of training with law enforcement and I hate it, I don't work in their field but I have to prove those skills for certification. They're all typical Yorkshire coppers, fat baboons that drink fifty million cups of tea a day and refer to me as a civilian, while I have to buy all of the tools and software at exhorted prices when they get it for pennies. No, I'm not bitter, not a bit.

[Deano_123]

All that hassle of blanking the plates for a couple photos on the interweb yet your car sits/ drives in the real world all day every day for any and everyone to see.

Logic?

[bam_bam]

So, say I'm looking for a VRM that is currently registered to sprint blue RS4 (because I might want to steal one and drive it to my Merseyside chop-shop. I guess 'could' drive around in the real world looking for a sprint blue RS4 to copy the plate from OR I could just Google that sh1t, it took a couple of seconds and on the first scroll down, there's a VRM for me!

The exposure of the Internet far outstrips how many people can view your vehicle at any one time in the real world. You could drive around in the real world for years counting the people that 'view' your car and that number could be surpassed in minutes under the right conditions on the Internet.

/logic

But hey, make it easier for 'them', if you want. I don't bother blanking my plate when posting but I accept the logic...

[mikep99]

^^^ agreed - and blanking the plates takes seconds/minutes so its hardly any hassle...

[Surrey Sam]

Agree with Bam, after the exposure of the PH photo-shoot I decided to buy a different Reg for the car. For casual forum meets, I don't bother blanking out but when selling a car I always do.

If Google doesn't throw up a suitable VRN for the thief, then a flick through Autotrader, eBay & Pistonheads will generally provide them with a Reg to get made up.

[Ian_C]

Exactly. Make 'them' pick someone elses VRN, not yours. I know two people on TSN who had their plates cloned. Both were private plates. A four digit and a five digit. One of the clones was the same make, model, bodystyle and colour (just a different engine). The other was an entirely different make and model.

I once heard it said crims like cloned private plates to move cars around undetected because they are less likely to set off ANPR. The private plate is likely to move from car to car when a private individual sells the car, hence the private plate will show as taxed tested and insured. When sold, a car will more likely be on its original index whilst sat untaxed and uninsured on a traders forecourt than a private plate.