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Mining EXIF Data From Camera Phones
emeitner notes that folks at the Internet Storm Center wrote scripts that harvested 15,291 images from Twitpic and analyzed the EXIF information. This reader adds, "While mining EXIF data from images is nothing new, how many people would allow this data to leave their cell phone if they knew what it contained? The source code for the scripts is also available from the article." "399 images included the location of the camera at the time the image was taken, and 102 images included the name of the photographer. ... The iPhone is including the most EXIF information among the images we found. ... It not only includes the phone's location, but also accelerometer data showing if the phone was moved at the time the picture was taken and the readout from the [built-]in compass showing in which direction the phone was pointed at the time."
Someday soon a politician will post what appears to be a benign photo with an embarrassing long/lat location.
I can't be bothered to set the clock on my camera, let alone enter personal data.
Not a problem on CELL PHONE cameras!
If my phone *didn't* tag my photos with my name I'd be a bit miffed :)
Generally yes. Unless you want to anonymously submit a photo, and you had no idea this information was stored inside the picture.
x86, oh yes, I'm pro.
It not only includes the phone's location, but also accelerometer data showing if the phone was moved at the time the picture was taken and the readout from the [built-]in compass showing in which direction the phone was pointed at the time.
Not only that, the file exposes an image from the phone's camera. Won't someone think of the children!
Facebook is the new AOL
Most RAW processing software preserves the tags embedded in the RAW file.
Presumably if you're doing RAW processing you're smart enough to know what EXIF is and make a conscious decision about which tags you want in your web-posted JPEG, but you never know.
And, as you sort of pointed out, it's not even privacy unless the photographer develops his own film.
!#@%*)anks for hanging up the phone, dear.
Rule 1 when doing something stupid and / or illegal:
Know your tech. Remember - stupid criminals get caught.
Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
Then maybe you should take a little more responsibility for what you are posting for the public to view.
Given the choice of convenience/cool features or privacy/security, users* will ALWAYS pick convenience/features. 100% of the time. To them, it's not "leaking a bunch of personal information", but enabling that "oh cool, it knows I took these pictures down by the waterfront and stuck them on the map for me" stuff.
* Normal users. Us paranoid slashdotters (and, in general, people that actually understand the necessity and implications of privacy and security) need not apply to that stat.
How are sites slashdotted when nobody reads TFAs?