Regional Talk > Southeast > Barcodes and security gates - WTF?!

Barcodes and security gates - WTF?!

If nothing else, it's a deterrent to keep people from crusing through the complex I suppose...If someone really wanted in, they'd just hop a fence somewhere. Interesting though, never seen barcode decals being used to gain access to a gated community. Most places I've been in the past either use a code at the gate or a magnetic card.

reply to Stiv2k
Reminds me of a funny story..

About 2 years ago a buddy and I went over this lady's house to fix her computer. She lived in a gated community. So we pulled up to the visitor lane, and didn't know her phone #, so we couldn't call her to open the gate. So as we sat there wondering what to do, another car pulls up next to us in front of the gate, and the passenger hops out walks over to the gate, leans down and waves his hand over the sensor. Viola, the gate opens up.

So after the car went in, my buddy did the same thing, and in we went with the car.
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reply to Stiv2k
Can tell you that it probably will not keep unauthorized people out very long. The least bit tech savvy person will just reproduce the bar code and give it away to whomever they want to.

Hell, they may even be able to just photo copy that bar code and use the copy to get in. Cannot imagine what other "security" could be built into that sticker.

reply to Stiv2k
I live in a apartment complex similar to that. Well, it is just a gated community requiring a RF device to open the gate when you drive in.

Actually, I like it that way. Though, where I live is the more expensive neighborhood, Mt. Pleasant SC.

You should be thankful they are doing something to more secure the area.
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reply to Stiv2k
You realize, of course, that by posting the pic in your rant, you've enabled anyone to D/L and print a copy on reflective tape...
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Read your contract and TOS before signing anything.

You guys kill me.This company spends big money to keep the residents safe and then you whine about it and try to beat the system.The property owners should be commended for their pro-active approach to resident safety.
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reply to Stiv2k
Just like locks, will only keep the 'honest thieves' out

reply to Stiv2k
Just move. Gated communities suck. I much prefer regular neighborhoods. Just my opinion though.

reply to Technogeez

I can verify with you that this barcode is not using the usual format. All standard barcodes (to the best of my knowledge) have two thin lines that at the end, middle, and beginning of the code. It works like this ||Manufacturer ID||Product ID|| The thin lines separate the manufacturer ID, which is unique to each manufacturer, from the product ID, which is unique for each product to each manufacturer.
The barcode you present does not follow this standard.
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Is it still possible to decode it? Pattern recognition of some sort?

I recon so, but there isn't really anything to decode. each of those lines, depending on size and position, represents a number. If you where to decode the number the computer uses, it would be a useless/useful as the original barcode. You could assign each bar it's own number and come up with your own numbering pattern to make additional barcodes, but they wouldn't get you in unless they also matched up with the number of another resident.
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Perhaps this may be breaching the point of "going too far" but curiosity killed the cat as they say. I'm going get my room mates to give me their stickers and see if i can recognize any sort of pattern, god knows what will happen
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reply to Stiv2k
You probably won't notice any pattern. If you could see them the way the computer sees them it would just be a bunch of random numbers, like 18372958002. Another person might have 78392047615. These numbers probably represent each individual renter so it knows who is coming and going and when. Having numbers on the side of your car would make it very difficult for the scanner to read. That's the purpose of bar codes. The computer can quickly read them and convert them to numbers internally.
The fact your landlord knows every time you enter your community is reason enough for me to not want to live in a place like that.
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I enjoy being the holder of my personal information. There's nothing special about which pair of underware I'm wearing today, and there's not really much one can do with that information, but I'm not for having that information freely available to people. I enjoy my personal privacy and the ability to relese it on my own terms.

What, in regards to coming and going?

This is an apartment complex and the landlord doesn't want people that don't belong there at the location. Or look at this way, having the bar code gives you a right of passage to the complex. I really don't see how that intrudes on your privacy.

It is no different if you lived in a residential neighborhood. Your neighbors will always notice your car entering and leaving your driveway. If it is you, no big deal. If it is someone suspicious, there would be a cause of some kind of concern but you have been watched.

Personally, I would thank the apartment complex for trying to make their customers/guest as safe as possible trying to reduce crime there.
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I'm not really interested in arguing for my views on privacy in this thread. The OP is free to disagree or agree with my original statement. I don't really care.