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It's freaky how much info is out there for some people.
My girlfriend bought an A4 S-Line, loaded. It was in amazing conditions and had very low miles; I was a little suspicious about how good the car looked. I googled the VIN. With nothing but that, I was able to piece together the following in less than ten minutes. Didn't pay for anything, just straight google:
Previous owner's name
Job
Salary
Years on the Job
Job address
Husband's name
Home address, phone number
Several other things.
Part of this was because she was a public employee but most of it was just out there. While it was handy for me (I was able to determine why it had low miles, see where it was kept at night, etc), it still left me feeling weird.
I've always protected my privacy, despite (or maybe because of) working in a tech role and when I google my full name, almost nothing comes up. I'm an executive, so you do find some things but not much at all.
One bit of advice I was given once with regard to the registration and garage door issue, get a PO box and register the car with that address. A PO Box address won't do a thief any good if they grab the registration.
One bit of advice I was given once with regard to the registration and garage door issue, get a PO box and register the car with that address. A PO Box address won't do a thief any good if they grab the registration.
The only issue with that (I own 5 vehicles and 2 trailers) is our nifty government out here on the left coast uses auto registration as a proof of address for all kinds of things from taxes to firearm CCWs. A PO Box will not cut it with many entities unfortunately. Someone may come across your address but are you an inviting target to rob? Depends on where you live, how many dogs you have, and what steps you have taken to mitigate easy access for criminals. Criminals usually go for the low lying fruit; easy pickings and easy kills.
Soon, we won't use any garage door or pod bay openers. AI will do it for us!
Dave:
Open the pod bay doors, please, HAL. Open the pod bay doors, please, HAL. Hello, HAL. Do you read me? Hello, HAL. Do you read me? Do you read me, HAL?
HAL:
Affirmative, Dave. I read you.
Dave:
Open the pod bay doors, HAL.
HAL:
I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that.
Dave:
What's the problem?
HAL:
I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do.
Dave:
What are you talking about, HAL?
HAL:
This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.
Dave:
I don't know what you're talking about, HAL.
HAL:
I know that you and Frank were planning to disconnect me. And I'm afraid that's something I cannot allow to happen.
Dave:
Where the hell did you get that idea, HAL?
HAL:
Dave, although you took very thorough precautions in the pod against my hearing you, I could see your lips move.
Dave:
All right, HAL. I'll go in through the emergency airlock.
HAL:
Without your space helmet, Dave, you're going to find that rather difficult.
Dave:
HAL, I won't argue with you any more! Open the doors!
HAL:
Dave, this conversation can serve no purpose any more. Goodbye.
05-08-2019, 02:54 PM
