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GPS Photos - 8/20/2010 4:42:08 PM

igor2003

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I hope this is in the right section since I do think it has to do with safety. If not, I'll understand if it gets moved.

I was just watching the evening news and they did a story about digital photos taken with phones and cameras that are equipped with GPS chips. Apparently there is a GPS signature attached to each photo that allows a person to tell exactly where each picture is taken! When one of these photos is downloaded to the Internet it allows anyone with the knowledge and ability to see that information.

People have been inserting photos of everything from boobage to pets into various threads. This could be allowing almost anyone that happens along to find out where you live...or at least where you were when the picture was taken.

I'm certainly not an expert on the subject...just passing on what I just saw on the news the way I understood it. If anyone has more information please share it.

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RE: GPS Photos - 8/20/2010 5:12:53 PM

BonesFromAsh

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Do you mean geotagging? If so, this link might be of interest tips on geotagging photos in Picasa

I'm not sure how this would work with random photos downloaded from a site but......

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RE: GPS Photos - 8/20/2010 7:23:56 PM

dreamysubmale

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Interesting post, thanks. I know that most of the downloaded digital photos have information on them, such as aperture, exposure, time and date photo taken, camera made and model etc. Some photo editing applications such as Photoshop reveal all that information.

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RE: GPS Photos - 8/20/2010 8:25:53 PM

igor2003

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quote:

ORIGINAL: BonesFromAsh

Do you mean geotagging? If so, this link might be of interest tips on geotagging photos in Picasa

I'm not sure how this would work with random photos downloaded from a site but......

First, I'll admit I was busy with other things while the newscast was on, but from what I understood the GPS information (latitude and longitude) are automatically digitally attached to photos made with a GPS equipped camera or camera-phone. I can't say if that is the case with all such cameras and phones or just with certain ones. They were talking about how people on such Internet sites as Facebook were surprised to find out that people knew EXACTLY where certain pictures of theirs were taken. Thus my concern about pictures being posted on certain threads here at CM. The reason for automatically attaching this information was apparently so that people on vacation could go back and see for sure where certain pictures were taken in case they forgot, and other similar circumstances.

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If the women don't find you handsome they should at least find you handy. - Red Green

At my age erections are like cops...there's never one around when you need it!

Never miss a good chance to shut up. - Will Rogers

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RE: GPS Photos - 8/22/2010 12:34:42 AM

adx

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while yes there are camera that can do that the default setting is usually to off and must be turned on in the settings before such information is recorded.

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RE: GPS Photos - 8/23/2010 10:37:20 AM

thatsub

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Just today I was looking at cellphones in ATT store and noticed that Android phones had a setting in their camera "add GPS tag" (something similarly worded). Apparently it is a new trend.

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RE: GPS Photos - 8/23/2010 5:40:57 PM

sappatoti

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quote:

ORIGINAL: igor2003

quote:

ORIGINAL: BonesFromAsh

Do you mean geotagging? If so, this link might be of interest tips on geotagging photos in Picasa

I'm not sure how this would work with random photos downloaded from a site but......

First, I'll admit I was busy with other things while the newscast was on, but from what I understood the GPS information (latitude and longitude) are automatically digitally attached to photos made with a GPS equipped camera or camera-phone. I can't say if that is the case with all such cameras and phones or just with certain ones. They were talking about how people on such Internet sites as Facebook were surprised to find out that people knew EXACTLY where certain pictures of theirs were taken. Thus my concern about pictures being posted on certain threads here at CM. The reason for automatically attaching this information was apparently so that people on vacation could go back and see for sure where certain pictures were taken in case they forgot, and other similar circumstances.

Geotagging information is stored within the photo's metadata block, if I'm not mistaken. Some applications can read this metadata and use it, many older applications cannot as this geolocation data is a relatively new concept.

It might be possible to make a copy of a digital photo that excludes that geolocation (and other camera generated metadata) and if that copy is the one posted to an internet site, no one would be able to gather location information.

You're right. Someone using geolocation information could determine the whereabouts of the subjects in the photo for whatever purposes they have in mind: private investigators looking for marital cheaters, a stalker keeping track of where his or her object of infatuation has been, etc.

Geotagging has its uses but as with any other tool, its use needs to be thought out and appropriately turned on or off as the situation calls. Be safe.

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RE: GPS Photos - 8/24/2010 8:33:39 PM

DivineFem

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It's a good thing I use a cheap point and shoot for all of my picture taking. My cell provider claims 'rights' over all my pictures taken with my phone, so I never use it.

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