For those who blur your serial numbers in pics ...

[yhtomit]

Hi there!

I've seen strategic blurring quite a bit here on THR (usually accompanied by queries, from just curious to dismissive, about whether it's especially important to obscure one's guns' serial numbers).

It's not something I'd thought much of today, but ...

http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/01/07/1352242&tid=172
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/10/08/2132212

Upshot: because numbers represent a pretty limited input set, merely blurring them is probably insufficient to keep them secret from a determined person. What are the odds that it could affect you? Low, I'd say But it's hard to be too paranoid in some contexts ...

timothy

 

[Ske1etor]

Thats why I don't blur them. I remove them completely with the clone stamp tool on photoshop cs.

 

[kcshooter]

Oh, I didn't think about Photoshop.

I've been bluring mine with a Dremel.

 

[Aran]

If I want to truly obscure something in an image, I first cover it with a solid color, take a screenshot of it at full resolution, then crop the screenshot to what I want to use.


Not getting anything out of that.

 

[Geronimo45]

C'mon, people. Operators like me have known about this for decades, now. That's why true warriors use MS Paint.

 

[ridata]

Or just add an extra square of color in there, and then they get it one digit/letter off.

 

[nalioth]

Yeah, this technology make the news when they caught some pedophile from some pix he'd posted on the web with his face blurred.

I don't blur anything, I use other image manipulation techniques to remove the numbers.

 

[the foot]

Just how paranoid are you guys?

 

[45Badger]

Really, why bother. And please, no "what ifs". Any documented bad happenings that were not easily resolved?

 

[230RN]

^

So, do you want to list all your serial numbers for us?

 

[Aran]

Just how paranoid are you guys?

Paranoid enough to spend the extra 15 seconds

 

[Seancass]

Just how paranoid are you guys?

you have no idea the things i've seen on this and other firearms sites.

course, never hurts to be careful. i don't try to blur them, i try to edit the image to where you can't tell it was there. cleaner look.

 

[Kind of Blued]

So what exactly is the point anyway?

Some guy could say a gun of his was stolen, this is what it was, this is the serial number... then what?

 

[Gottahaveone]

Isn't it easier to just stick a piece of electrical tape over the number before you shoot the picture? No data in the picture to decode then......

 

[N1150X]

Isn't it easier to just stick a piece of electrical tape over the number before you shoot the picture? No data in the picture to decode then......

+1

 

[45Badger]

^

So, do you want to list all your serial numbers for us?

That falls under the "what if" BS. Why would I bother or take the time to do that? What I question (and nobody has answered) what are we really worrying about beyond the hypothetical?

If I'm posting some pics of guns, or selling, I do not bother obscuring the serial numbers. Has worked so far, and I'm not yet paranoid or anal enough to have a stroke over it.

To be fair, I'll be sure to post and whine when some actually happens, and anybody who feels so inclined can say, "There! We told you so!"

Until then (or other documented proof of significant risk), I call BS and urbantinfoilhatparanoidgunownerlegend

 

[230RN]

^ I think you answered the question satisfactorily.

Thank you.

-----------

ETA RE BELOW POST:

That was in fact funny. So far, that's two keyboards. Anyone else?

V

 

[MachIVshooter]

Oh, I didn't think about Photoshop.

I've been bluring mine with a Dremel.

Kcshooter, you owe me a keyboard.

 

[Gator]

45Badger!

 

[txdude321]

why are we supposed to cover serial numbers? Im kinda new to this so pls dont flame me

 

[benEzra]

Don't forget that Photoshop does not always make editing changes in the exif thumbnail, either. Not usually an issue for serial numbers, but can be if it is a closeup shot and you want to crop the number out (the thumbnail embedded in the image isn't cropped, so you would need an exif editor to remove it).

 

[X-Rap]

Why do you have to post pics of your weapons to strangers?
And why do you strangers care if you see the ser. nos?

 

[Kind of Blued]

Why do you have to post pics of your weapons to strangers?
And why do you strangers care if you see the ser. nos?

You're the third to ask. We're not sure.

 

[JCMAG]

Sharing pictures of your guns makes JCMAG smile (except if it is an ugly autloader )

But JCMAG does not require serial numbers.

It is theoretically possible that someone could report your firearm as stolen. It is very, very unlikely, mostly because that individual opens themselves up to a world of owies if the owner has a bill of sale with his name on it.

But better safe than sorry.

 

[jakemccoy]

I paint over the serial. People who spend more than 15 seconds asking "why?" must not have an efficient way to do it.