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GPS Tags in Images of Your Vehicle

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 2:24 pm
by Caesium
As many of you may be aware (or may not) camera phones tend to tag images with the GPS data of where the image was taken.

Not usually a problem for most people.

However, if you are taking pictures of your pride and joy on your drive, and even going to the lengths of hiding the numberplate, you may still be inadvertently advertising your address on the internet.

If you host and link an image that has GPS data embedded in the EXIF, the image can be saved locally and then interrogated to ascertain where you live, and more importantly where the car is.

Don't make it easy for thieves to steal your car, remove the GPS data before linking or hosting images.

Car thieves DO use this method to locate vehicles to steal and they DO use forums to gain this information.

Re: GPS Tags in Images of Your Vehicle

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 5:24 pm
by pcdee
Good point......thanks!!

Re: GPS Tags in Images of Your Vehicle

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 8:04 pm
by X5Sport
Very good point.  I remove certain EXIF data from 'public' photos and very rarely use my camera phone.

I also make sure that my 'home' location is not in the Satnav address memory either. 

What a strange world we now live in......nothing is private any longer.

Richard

Re: GPS Tags in Images of Your Vehicle

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 8:14 pm
by Sanj
Have to thank Richard for stalking me two years back on this one. He worked out where I lived down to the bushy bush in my front garden!!!

Easiest way is to use a conventional camera, then upload em. Camera pics as long as you never intend to post them online. Oh and because I'm lazy and for others - if you stop the location services being used for the camera does that still keep EXIF data for the pics you take? Never checked...

Re: GPS Tags in Images of Your Vehicle

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 8:29 pm
by X5Sport
Once a spook, always a spook.....  :detective:

Turning location data off should do it, but given the privacy reports about what really gets turned off when you toggle the software switch on smartphone apps, it's best to be wary.

If you have a decent photo editor on a PC/Mac then it will be worth checking the EXIF data.

Re: GPS Tags in Images of Your Vehicle

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 9:27 pm
by Steamyrotter
[quote="Sanj"]
He worked out where I lived down to the bushy bush in my front garden!!!
[/quote]

he wasn't the, or in the, Bushy Bush ??

>:D

Re: GPS Tags in Images of Your Vehicle

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 10:19 pm
by X5Sport
The art of camouflage...... :ninja: :))