Beware – GPS Location Stored In Pictures

Hi Guys,


THis has probably been discussed before but i couldn't find it that quick. All digital cameras, including those on smartphones, store something called EXIF data in the photo. It stores lots of things like shutter/aperture, ISO setting, what lens/focal length you used, whether flash was used (the exact features depend on your camera). But beware if you have a digital camera or smartphone with a GPS reciever! Now this is often a useful thing as well, as you get maps when you are travelling - but the camera software often also stores the location of your photo in the EXIF data.


Worst case scenario is that you have a huge farm and a nice marijuana growing operation going on. It will be easy for authorities to locate your grow area from just one picture. If you live in a city it's less of a problem because GPS is accurate within 10 to 50 feet.


Some websites like facebook wipe it automatically when you upload pictures. I don't know if rollitup does this as well but it might be something to consider.


How to delete exif data?


-Switch off geotagging
-Remove the exif data with software (i always use easy exif delete)
-Make print screen of the picture
-Or use a camera without GPS receiver....




Any other ideas?


Robert

I'm on Windows 7. To remove exif data I highlight and right click the pictures, then go to properties. From there I select the "Details" tab at the top and click on "Remove Properties and Personal Information"

Just thought I'd throw that in

Been around for years, notably was john mcafee, mcafee antivirus' programmer/developer who was arrested due to his interview with a magazine who posted a picture without the metadata removed, leading to his apprehension on murder charges.

are you talking about this john mcafee ?

http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bKgf5PaBzyg

if your computer has microsoft paint on it, which i think most of them come with today, you can simply copy your pix in paint and save as is, and the new saved file will not contain any exif data what so ever.. a quick, free method to delete any and all exif data on photos..

also, on smart phones, simply turn off your gps location services and that data won't be in your photo's.. the only time i ever turn on my gps locations is when i'm using the phone for a gps like last weekend when i went on a road trip to massachusetts for the weekend, other than that, you can bet your sweet ass it's always off..

In 2012, when asked if he personally uses McAfee anti-virus he replied by saying "I take it off," and that "It's too annoying."

Click to expand...

He was right, it really was too annoying