What's new
  • ICMag with help from Landrace Warden and The Vault is running a NEW contest in November! You can check it here. Prizes are seeds & forum premium access. Come join in!

Fingerprints In Pics

Sorry for the spelling.

I would say we are 100% likely to be sabotaged by spell check than being busted for any reason. This getting the post count back up is a mofo!
 
This is a reasonable concern and a good mention.

With the right image, where the full tip of a index finger is visible, close up and in good light, a print could easily be pulled. TOss the image in photoshop, isolate the finger, turn the image to black & white and crank up the contrast and yes, it'd be very very easy to print out that fingerprint and then run it in a database.

Is it likely? No. Is it possible? Hell yes. Better to be safe than sorry.

This is very unlikely with just any image - the resolution would need to be good, the finger close enough, and the lighting correct....... But it's far from impossible.

Paranoid? Maybe, but then again, a lot of people seem to think it's perfectly fine to show their grow to all of their friends - and look where that gets them.. You live and you learn.

Take any and all precautions possible to prevent mishaps. Since this is a totally plausible scenario, I'm glad it was brought up.

Keep clear shots of your fingertips out of your images. Same goes for tattoos, pets, personal belongings, etc.. If you want to share your images safely, show us nothing else than the plants.

And for fuck's sake, use a VPN, pre-wipe all EXIF data and don't upload anything from your cellphone. If you want to share, get a used cell with no service attached to it and use that as a camera for your photos. Don't use it for anything else.

When you're facing 12 years over a fingerprint harvested from a photo you posted online, you'll be wishing you took the precaution. Again, unlikely but totally plausible.
 

Red Fang

Active member
Veteran
I read one page, hope to read the rest soon. I wondered if taking pics of dried buds on reflective material reveals your face partially or fully even when I can't see it when loading the pics. Prob not but if some enhanced blown up version of the pic can reveal my face or other identifiable items from a reflection off a shiny tent or grow bag or bud tray, well I would not like that. But you also make a good point RV, like what I fear prob not too likely but you never know. More info to help us all would always be appreciated.
 

yesum

Well-known member
ICMag Donor
Veteran
Not just you, I thought of it too. I have no prints in my photos even though I am medical. Do I think they check this shit out? No.

If I was running a large illegal grow I doubt I would do any photos at all. Maybe if they were in no way helpful to narcs. I am sure some narc looks at this site but not for long, just to see if someone big is slipping up bad.
 

Red Fang

Active member
Veteran
Big? what is considered big now? once upon a time 1 "big" light was major, now it seems if you are under 20 or at least 10 you are good. I am not nearly at that minimum but still get constant automated calls quoting some federal bill offering solar to lower bills above a certain amount of which I am above. I get no air activity then all of a sudden super crazy shit. I go make a purchase of supplies and crazy radar beeps on the detector and see nothing. But don't think i am big or slipping up bad thank God!
 

bigbadbiddy

Well-known member
Does this really require a debate?

What is wrong with using gloves?

Since when is it sensible to ponder whether or not the coke bottle can stay in the picture because it looks the same as those in the U.S. or not?
Just get that sucker outa there, why even consider it???


I look at it like this:
Someone reminded us that it is technologically possible to lift prints off of pictures.
The result should be more pictures with gloves and less with finger tips visible, end of story.
What could possibly make us consider not protecting our finger tips in pics after being reminded thusly???


I swear this reminds me of back in the day when someone reminded folks to wipe GPS data from their pictures before posting them and people arguing that LEO would never go through the trouble, it's too much work yadiyada.

Come on...
 

Dropped Cat

Six Gummi Bears and Some Scotch
Veteran
picture.php


Busted. lol
 
G

Guest

You beat me to it by moments, sorry I don't have any plants mature, all vegging.

picture.php
 

PoweredByLove

Most Loved
weed is legal or medical or decrim in most states now. i don't think anyone ever gave that many fucks to be copying fingerprints from the internet and running them through the fbi database...seems like a huge waste of time money and effort. i think snitching still generates all the busts same as ever.

back in the old days i was very careful not to show hands or anything in the past because of unique identifying marks. i don't care anymore because of the afformentioned reasons...but i live in florida so i keep my identity a secret. i don't care about fingerprints showing anymore...but i still don't want tattoos and anything else in pics that can leave clues as to where to look for me. i'm nobody and not even warranting local neighborhood watch scrutiny but why take chances.
 

PoweredByLove

Most Loved
oh yeah i forgot the hugest caveat.

pictures from the internet cannot be considered evidence since they have been "manipulated" by the process of uploading, transmitting, and then redownloaded. no way to link that pic back to you. even if it's a pic of your face. photoshop exists and the internet does too. combine them and case closed due to lack of evidence.

lol had to double check since you know laws always changing everyday to the tune of some 25,000 new laws per year...

looks like the law changed. pictures from the internet are admissible but you have to "source" them first...i can't remember the word they used...read the link... but basically they have to verify the trail leading to your internet pics...aka snitches...

http://federalevidence.com/blog/201...ng-internet-screenshot-evidence-under-fre-901
 
G

Guest

oh yeah i forgot the hugest caveat.

pictures from the internet cannot be considered evidence since they have been "manipulated" by the process of uploading, transmitting, and then redownloaded. no way to link that pic back to you. even if it's a pic of your face. photoshop exists and the internet does too. combine them and case closed due to lack of evidence.

Thank you, I've been growing almost none stop for 15+ yrs in the same place and never had to tear down my grow or even had a scare. I was starting to get a little pissed off from being lectured about safety and what should or shouldn't be debated.
 
Last edited:
In all honesty the fact that I thought about the prints in pics thing for years before making the post. If I really thought it was a huge risk I would of posted sooner. Not saying it can't happen. Old paranoid habits die hard.

I would agree the odds of this being the sole reason for getting busted are very, very slim and by the time they where looking into your account you already had bigger problems.

Hopefully soon none of us will have to worry about bullshit like blotting out faces and such.
 
G

Guest

In all honesty the fact that I thought about the prints in pics thing for years before making the post. If I really thought it was a huge risk I would of posted sooner. Not saying it can't happen. Old paranoid habits die hard.

I would agree the odds of this being the sole reason for getting busted are very, very slim and by the time they where looking into your account you already had bigger problems.

Hopefully soon none of us will have to worry about bullshit like blotting out faces and such.

Hey RV, it was never my intent to belittle your post and was being honest when I said in my first post that I applauded your concerns about security. I was just wanting to make the point that it was possible to be so caught up with the 'what ifs' and smaller details and forget about the things like landlords, relationships gone sour, falling outs with neighbors, smell problems and the like. Hope neither of us or anyone else has to experience an event like that.

Happy Growing!
 

stoned-trout

if it smells like fish
Veteran
Big? what is considered big now? once upon a time 1 "big" light was major, now it seems if you are under 20 or at least 10 you are good. I am not nearly at that minimum but still get constant automated calls quoting some federal bill offering solar to lower bills above a certain amount of which I am above. I get no air activity then all of a sudden super crazy shit. I go make a purchase of supplies and crazy radar beeps on the detector and see nothing. But don't think i am big or slipping up bad thank God!
get the solar ..the rebates and incentives make it worth it...yeehaw...for a measly 150$$ ish a month its a deal..buy the system not lease/rent whatever
 

who dat is

Cave Dweller
Veteran
I've wondered about this before too with people posting pictures with prints visible, never mind talking about tattoos and scars. I've been on the fence a couple of times about posting certain pictures and just two weeks ago used some shitty pre fab images to cover prints in an Instagram post. I'm from the East coast and I've seen just how shitty things can get. I'm loosening up as more and more states get legal and medical. :yes:

picture.php
 
Last edited:

sdd420

Well-known member
Veteran
Yep they just did this( pulled a print from a photo). Be careful out there and fuck all cops..yes all of them. They got a bad guy but it's bound to come our way. Peace sdd
 
Top