Photo location - privacy

[flymartin]

I noticed that when I add a photo a post, all the metadata including GPS location are included. A quick spot check of others' photos shows many others have this too. Running through the T6.1 Delays thread, it's possible to locate precisely where some posters were standing when they photographed their new pride and joy. Simply download the photo and check the metadata.

Some posters are successfully stripping metadata including location.

I'm a bit uncomfortable that anyone on the internet can find my house (and Cali) in a few seconds. So.. what is the secret to ensuring location privacy when posting a photo?

 

[ez-roller]

post screenshots (png or jpg) instead of the original picture

 

[chockswahay]

I noticed that when I add a photo a post, all the metadata including GPS location are included. A quick spot check of others' photos shows many others have this too. Running through the T6.1 Delays thread, it's possible to locate precisely where some posters were standing when they photographed their new pride and joy. Simply download the photo and check the metadata.

Some posters are successfully stripping metadata including location.

I'm a bit uncomfortable that anyone on the internet can find my house (and Cali) in a few seconds. So.. what is the secret to ensuring location privacy when posting a photo?

How (where) do you see the metadata?

 

[dspuk]

Just checked this and it's right. It's not easy though - you have to download the image and then check the metadata on the file - you cant see it on the site. If the stalk is of that level the metadata is likely the least of your issues. As above - only way to get around is to post a screenshot rather than upload from your camera roll.

 

[Velma's Dad]

post screenshots (png or jpg) instead of the original picture

That's what I do on most forums etc - I just take a screen snip of the picture and paste it straight in, which is usually very easy.

Just like this, from my campervan holiday album... (You're most welcome)

 

[chockswahay]

Yup, i just found it too............ it is a bit shocking....... we all tend to just 'shoot and post' especially from a phone (coz it's so easy!)................... sort of knocks the whole 'blank out your reg no' in to a cocked hat if you take a piccy at home

 

[chockswahay]

But your wife could still read this forum ...........

Oops, dunno what happened there?

 

[Velma's Dad]

Oops, dunno what happened there?

LOL. But how do you know that's not Mrs VD??

 

[chockswahay]

LOL. But how do you know that's not Mrs VD??

Haha, no you got it wrong! I mean does your wife know you are posting pictures of her!? hehe

 

[Roger Boeken]

It is not difficult to remove personal information from pictures:
just google ‘how to strip metadata from images’ but always do it on a copy of the image if you want to keep the metadata in the original.

 

[Hawthorn37]

Maybe a dumb question, but is there nothing that can be done at a forum level?

 

[kurienp]

All forums strip the metadata before upload. I think we need to let the admins know so that they can see if something has been inadvertently modified in the code on this site?

 

[Hawthorn37]

All forums strip the metadata before upload. I think we need to let the admins know so that they can see if something has been inadvertently modified in the code on this site?

I’d hope so. I’ve run a few commercial websites and each hosting tool I’ve used does this strip out. @calikev what do you think?

 

[calikev]

i have spoken to our web guy here is his reply. Ive removed the location data from the template, you'll have to let me know if any other data is visable. It's not something all sites strip out like they claim, infact most of them dont they just dont display it

 

[flymartin]

i have spoken to our web guy here is his reply. Ive removed the location data from the template, you'll have to let me know if any other data is visable. It's not something all sites strip out like they claim, infact most of them dont they just dont display it

I think removing it from the template would just mean the metadata isn't displayed in the forum, rather than stripping it from the images on upload.

I see from the very bottom of the page that this forum runs on XenForo. I had a look at the XenForo documentation. It looks like there is no built-in way to strip the metadata from jpeg images, but there is an add-on that could be installed to do it: https://xenforo.com/community/resources/attachment-improvements-by-xon.6629/

Meanwhile, I wonder whether Tapatalk or another forum-reading client app has a setting for removing metadata - that would be easier than screenshotting or manually removing..

 

[Kayleigh]

On an iPhone you can turn the location off for all photos you take.

Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Camera > Never

 

[calikev]

The plugin is now installed going forward all photos will have all data stripped

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

I’m not sure I understand the concern about people being able to locate a van from a photo? I know the location of 7 VW camper vans in my local area simply because they are parked on driveways and I pass them regularly. Is anybody aware of a van being targeted and stolen by a scallywag who’s analysed a photo on this or other forums?

 

[Velma's Dad]

I’m not sure I understand the concern about people being able to locate a van from a photo? I know the location of 7 VW camper vans in my local area simply because they are parked on driveways and I pass them regularly. Is anybody aware of a van being targeted and stolen by a scallywag who’s analysed a photo on this or other forums?

I agree. We're not talking about someone keeping a McLaren P1 discreetly stored at their rural retreat. If someone wants to nick a California there are plenty of them to choose from out on the street and on driveways.

 

[Hawthorn37]

I’m not sure I understand the concern about people being able to locate a van from a photo? I know the location of 7 VW camper vans in my local area simply because they are parked on driveways and I pass them regularly. Is anybody aware of a van being targeted and stolen by a scallywag who’s analysed a photo on this or other forums?

I am a bit wary of sharing unnecessary data that’s not needed. Something that sticks with me - I attended a security briefing once, ran by Northumbria Police with a guest from a Home Office department “specialising” in domestic anti-terrorism. The session was all about the bad people’s ability to easily locate targets for their particular purposes - animal rights, Eco-warriors, religious zealots etc - you get the idea. The use of all digital footprint ”keys” to locate a person, their family, their assets (vehicles etc) was a big part of the session., with a few audience volunteers acting as impromptu assistants. It took the Home Office guy no more than 5 minutes to build a comprehensive data file for each person, AND their children, from knowing nothing. Meta data was used from social media posts and socisl websites as part of this.

 

[flymartin]

I’m not sure I understand the concern about people being able to locate a van from a photo? I know the location of 7 VW camper vans in my local area simply because they are parked on driveways and I pass them regularly. Is anybody aware of a van being targeted and stolen by a scallywag who’s analysed a photo on this or other forums?

To me it just feels like sensible internet privacy not to make your home location public. I don't honestly expect a car thief to be surfing this forum to find Californias to steal. But you could choose to put your home address in the location field on your profile, and most people don't, at least partially for privacy and security reasons.

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

I am a bit wary of sharing unnecessary data that’s not needed. Something that sticks with me - I attended a security briefing once, ran by Northumbria Police with a guest from a Home Office department “specialising” in domestic anti-terrorism. The session was all about the bad people’s ability to easily locate targets for their particular purposes - animal rights, Eco-warriors, religious zealots etc - you get the idea. The use of all digital footprint ”keys” to locate a person, their family, their assets (vehicles etc) was a big part of the session., with a few audience volunteers acting as impromptu assistants. It took the Home Office guy no more than 5 minutes to build a comprehensive data file for each person, AND their children, from knowing nothing. Meta data was used from social media posts and socisl websites as part of this.

I get that @Hawthorn37 I really do and it obviously pays to exercise some caution online as one should in life generally.

But, I am resigned to the fact that many companies and organisations already hold many thousands of data points on each and every one of us and it’s unavoidable, unless you go for a Ben Fogle ‘A new life in the wild’ type existence .

We’re constantly tracked based on: mobile phone location, debit/credit/store/loyalty card transactions, internet browsing, APNR, CCTV, cloud connected dashcams, motorway tags, etc, etc.

Even VW WeConnect tracks and shares your location unless you select maximum privacy in your California, (in which case many desirable features are disabled).

Forum members often post pictures of their exciting travels which indicates their house is potentially unoccupied. Another risk - the list goes on.

Bottom line for me is to exercise caution, be vigilant but not to overthink the risks. My California has a number of security features (factory fitted and after market), CCTV cover at home and it’s insured.

Happy camping.

 

[Hawthorn37]

I get that @Hawthorn37 I really do and it obviously pays to exercise some caution online as one should in life generally.

But, I am resigned to the fact that many companies and organisations already hold many thousands of data points on each and every one of us and it’s unavoidable, unless you go for a Ben Fogle ‘A new life in the wild’ type existence .

We’re constantly tracked based on: mobile phone location, debit/credit/store/loyalty card transactions, internet browsing, APNR, CCTV, cloud connected dashcams, motorway tags, etc, etc.

Even VW WeConnect tracks and shares your location unless you select maximum privacy in your California, (in which case many desirable features are disabled).

Forum members often post pictures of their exciting travels which indicates their house is potentially unoccupied. Another risk - the list goes on.

Bottom line for me is to exercise caution, be vigilant but not to overthink the risks. My California has a number of security features (factory fitted and after market), CCTV cover at home and it’s insured.

Happy camping.

Yes I agree with you, the amount of personal data out there is scary, and arguably increasing exponentially, even with GDPR. I guess the bottom line in my view is to minimise what leaks out Within practical limits.

 

[Kayleigh]

Yes I agree with you, the amount of personal data out there is scary, and arguably increasing exponentially, even with GDPR. I guess the bottom line in my view is to minimise what leaks out Within practical limits.

I think the takeaway here is that people may be unknowingly sharing personally identifiable information (PII). Whether you choose to share that information is a personal choice.