Slashdot Mirror
The Hidden Security Risk of Geotags
pickens writes "The NY Times reports that security experts and privacy advocates have begun warning consumers about the potential dangers of geotags, which are embedded in photos and videos taken with GPS-equipped smartphones and digital cameras. By looking at geotags of uploaded photos, 'you can easily find out where people live, what kind of things they have in their house and also when they are going to be away,' says one security expert. Because the location data is not visible to the casual viewer, the concern is that many people may not realize it is there; and they could be compromising their privacy, if not their safety, when they post geotagged media online."
Help, they can see me going into my house!
They will know where i live..
WHERE IS MY TIN FOIL HAT?!?!
OP states "By looking at geotags of uploaded photos, 'you can easily find out where people live, what kind of things they have in their house and also when they are going to be away,'..." How can uploaded photos tell someone when I am going to be away? Can pictures now show us what we'll be seeing and where at some point in time in the future? Neat... So, what setting do I use for my DSLR to get it to show me where I'll be going and when I'll be away? I want to see what's ahead of me.... Maybe it can show that I am currently away but how can it show when I'm going to be... anything? Oh, now I get it... I should take a picture of my airline tickets or hotel booking and post those on line... Yeah, that's how they'll know....
It seems that quite a few geotags on the porn I download are at my house. The time stamps are when I'm at work.
Have gnu, will travel.
[*] Separate purchase of time machine required for viewing geotags on photographs from the future.