Reply
Honored Contributor
Posts: 25,929
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Tracking photos sent via the internet

We got an e mail a few days ago discussing how easy it is for anyone who is tech savvy to track any photos sent over the internet back to the exact location the picture was taken and the exact location where it was sent over the internet from. It was rather unbelieveable so i responded to myfriend that i was surprised by the info. he told me to go somewhere and take a photo and then go somewhere else and send it - writing ndown the exact address at each place. I did as instructed - trying to stump him I took a picture out over the gulf of Mexico but from a private residence not from the beach then went to an internet bookstore and sent it. he was back to me within min. with the exact location of where I took the picture - and where it was sent to him from - the exact addresses. Apparently when you take a picture the satellite coordinates are instamped onto the photo and when you send it via the internet the satellite coordinates are also instamped onto it - so anyone who knows how can be brought easily right into the very rooms that were instamped. I find this to be rather scary - esp. when people are always sending pictures of their cute children out on the internet. Especially , as well, when people send pictures to a public forum like this site - where there could be any number of mentally ill people who could do this. Just a few words of caution about sending pictures over the internet - it is not as innocent as it may seem. You don't want to bring a pervert to your grandchild's door.
Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,734
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Tracking photos sent via the internet

That is very scary. I had no idea it could be done; I did a search and found this article on ""geotagging.""

http://www.gizmag.com/online-predators-can-determine-where-posted-photos-and-videos-were-shot/15818...

Thank you for posting this HH!

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,320
Registered: ‎10-21-2010

Re: Tracking photos sent via the internet

Technology today is certainly something..both with pros and cons.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,320
Registered: ‎10-21-2010

Re: Tracking photos sent via the internet

Now if they can only fix the lack of paragraphs and font on Ipads lol..

Honored Contributor
Posts: 18,415
Registered: ‎11-25-2011

Re: Tracking photos sent via the internet

On 3/25/2014 CouponQueen said:

Now if they can only fix the lack of paragraphs and font on Ipads lol..

It's a Q thing....and I have a work-around if interested (it's under Tips & Tricks in the Electronic section).

BTW...I've typed this on my iPad.

Super Contributor
Posts: 1,861
Registered: ‎09-14-2012

Re: Tracking photos sent via the internet

If your camera doesn't have GPS, the pics are not trackable...

Super Contributor
Posts: 1,368
Registered: ‎09-14-2013

Re: Tracking photos sent via the internet

On 3/25/2014 CouponQueen said:

Now if they can only fix the lack of paragraphs and font on Ipads lol..

Many posters have posted how we can type things to fix this.I learned to start w < p > w no spaces to make print bigger & end a paragraph w < / p > w no spaces.

Im using ipad rite now! (:

Super Contributor
Posts: 1,520
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Tracking photos sent via the internet

Happy housewife, this is an excellent article about how to avoid geotagging. Not all cameras do it, most late model cell phones do and if yours does it can be disabled. Read on.

http://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-the-Potential-Risks-of-Geotagging

Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,734
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Tracking photos sent via the internet

What about pics from an iphone? Aren't 99% of pics taken from a smartphone now?

Highlighted
Super Contributor
Posts: 1,368
Registered: ‎09-14-2013

Re: Tracking photos sent via the internet

On 3/25/2014 MJ 12 said:

That is very scary. I had no idea it could be done; I did a search and found this article on ""geotagging.""

http://www.gizmag.com/online-predators-can-determine-where-posted-photos-and-videos-were-shot/15818...

Thank you for posting this HH!

Thanks mj. Learned something new!Thanks for posting OP (: