We just moved into a new house, and my mom made a nameplate with all our names, including our last name, and hung it on the front door. She put a lot of effort into it, but I’m wondering if this is a security risk. We live in a pretty safe neighborhood, but I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to have our names out in the open like that. What do you all think?
Maybe she could hang it inside near the door instead? That way, she still gets to show off her work without making it visible to everyone outside.
JamesHenry said:
Maybe she could hang it inside near the door instead? That way, she still gets to show off her work without making it visible to everyone outside.
Having a nameplate outside is odd, but in terms of security, your name and address are already public information. County tax records, online databases, and even things like classmate directories already have most of this info available.
@Dragonsecure
Sure, but not everyone knows how to look that up. Putting your family name right on the door makes it easier for anyone walking by to get information they wouldn’t otherwise have.
Mark said:
@Dragonsecure
Sure, but not everyone knows how to look that up. Putting your family name right on the door makes it easier for anyone walking by to get information they wouldn’t otherwise have.
Even if they can’t Google it, anyone can just check your mailbox and see your last name on letters.
Mark said:
@Dragonsecure
Sure, but not everyone knows how to look that up. Putting your family name right on the door makes it easier for anyone walking by to get information they wouldn’t otherwise have.
With just a first and last name, I could probably find your phone number.
@Andy
Yeah, but a lot of those searches pull old or inaccurate information. It’s hit or miss.
Sam said:
@Andy
Yeah, but a lot of those searches pull old or inaccurate information. It’s hit or miss.
Some do, but depending on the source, some will be correct.
@Andy
An address alone can give someone a lot more than just a phone number. It’s easy to find past and current residents.
Brent said:
@Andy
An address alone can give someone a lot more than just a phone number. It’s easy to find past and current residents.
Yeah, and some sites will list phone numbers too.
Mark said:
@Dragonsecure
Sure, but not everyone knows how to look that up. Putting your family name right on the door makes it easier for anyone walking by to get information they wouldn’t otherwise have.
These days, anyone under 75 can use Google to find info. It’s not exactly hidden.
@Dragonsecure
It’s more about making things easier or harder for someone looking to cause trouble. A determined person can get info, but why make it easy for them?
That’s just a bad idea.
It’s not just about privacy, but security too. If someone is watching your house, they now know how many people live there and can figure out when it’s empty.
Dwayne said:
It’s not just about privacy, but security too. If someone is watching your house, they now know how many people live there and can figure out when it’s empty.
Property owner details are already public in most counties. The nameplate isn’t revealing anything new.
@Howard
Sure, but it’s different when the info is sitting on your door for anyone to see without searching for it.
@Howard
The concern isn’t just about finding a name, but about giving strangers an easy way to approach kids by pretending they know their family.
Feels like something people did before the internet.
That’s basically an invitation for trouble. I’d ask her to reconsider.
It’s a nice idea, but it’s also a security risk. It’s like putting your kid’s name on their backpack—looks nice but gives strangers an easy way to pretend they know them.