5 ms·

There're a lot of comments saying thieves are too thick to use technology for robbing people. Maybe some are, but there are plenty of tech-savvy people with no

by anjc 12y ago

There're a lot of comments saying thieves are too thick to use technology for robbing people. Maybe some are, but there are plenty of tech-savvy people with no scruples who might use information like this. To-order car thieves use plenty of technology to do their business, for example. And furthermore, I'm sure we all know plenty of houses that were mysteriously robbed at an opportune moment (the night everybody went on a trip, for example). Thieves mightn't be cross-referencing databases using various API's, but they're not so thick as to miss opportunities that might present themselves through Facebook posts etc. I don't see a problem with increasing awareness of the possibilities.

GFischer 12y ago
The tech car-thieves use is pretty amazing, I work for an insurance company, and we've seen almost any kind of deterrent being easily defeated. Some have gone to the extreme of bringing and installing an entire car dashboard to bypass custom keys. I've seen videos of devices that purportedly copy most common alarms. Heck, it apparently costs U$ 5. Snopes thinks it's fake: http://www.snopes.com/autos/techno/lockcode.asp http://www.snopes.com/autos/techno/lockcode.asp however most mainstream news sites report it as true: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/new-5-device-easily-unlocks-car-doors-for-thieves-in-winnipeg-1.2288826 http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/06/after-burglaries-mystery-car-unlocking-device-has-police-stumped/ http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/06/after-burglaries-mys...
- anjc 12y ago
  Yep this is exactly what I mean. BMW's get stolen around here often, robbers programming new keys without breaking a sweat, and knowing how smash windows and get in without setting off the alarm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DshK4ZXPU9o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DshK4ZXPU9o When the risk/reward of theft is skewed so poorly in a thief's favour, and considering that there's a precedent of unscrupulous technological usage, I don't think it'd unrealistic for people to monitor social networks in this manner to look for opportunities. In your experience, are certain new cars more likely to be stolen? I suppose any car can easily be taken by waking the owner up at night with a weapon in their face and asking for the keys...
  - GFischer 12y ago
    I can't answer your question about new cars :) (also, I work in Uruguay, very different from the U.S.). Your remark about any car being easily stolen reminded me of http://xkcd.com/538/ http://xkcd.com/538/

by anjc 12y ago

GFischer 12y ago

The tech car-thieves use is pretty amazing, I work for an insurance company, and we've seen almost any kind of deterrent being easily defeated. Some have gone to the extreme of bringing and installing an entire car dashboard to bypass custom keys. I've seen videos of devices that purportedly copy most common alarms. Heck, it apparently costs U$ 5. Snopes thinks it's fake: http://www.snopes.com/autos/techno/lockcode.asp http://www.snopes.com/autos/techno/lockcode.asp however most mainstream news sites report it as true: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/new-5-device-easily-unlocks-car-doors-for-thieves-in-winnipeg-1.2288826 http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/06/after-burglaries-mystery-car-unlocking-device-has-police-stumped/ http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/06/after-burglaries-mys...

anjc 12y ago
Yep this is exactly what I mean. BMW's get stolen around here often, robbers programming new keys without breaking a sweat, and knowing how smash windows and get in without setting off the alarm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DshK4ZXPU9o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DshK4ZXPU9o When the risk/reward of theft is skewed so poorly in a thief's favour, and considering that there's a precedent of unscrupulous technological usage, I don't think it'd unrealistic for people to monitor social networks in this manner to look for opportunities. In your experience, are certain new cars more likely to be stolen? I suppose any car can easily be taken by waking the owner up at night with a weapon in their face and asking for the keys...
- GFischer 12y ago
  I can't answer your question about new cars :) (also, I work in Uruguay, very different from the U.S.). Your remark about any car being easily stolen reminded me of http://xkcd.com/538/ http://xkcd.com/538/