Keep Kids Safe When Taking Pictures With Smartphones - Geo-tag off

Keep your kids safe!

Did you know that your privacy may be at risk when you take and post an image online from your smartphone?

How

Because of the GPS Geo-tag data that is embedded within each image.

Why is it dangerous?

Because bad people can use this data to track down exactly where the picture was taken via Google Maps. Yep, it’s scary.

Local News Report

Technical details

This embedded data is called Exchangeable Image File Format or (EXIF) Among other things this data can provide are specific details like whether the camera flash was used, different types of digital effects were applied and even when the photo was taken. What makes this particularly difficult to control overall is that most smartphones come with this Geo-tag feature enabled by default.

So how to protect yourself and your kids’ privacy?

Disable the GPS Geo-tag feature within your smartphone:

How to Disable Photo GPS Geo-tag Feature on IPhones:

  • Click Settings
  • Click General
  • Click “Location Services”
  • Select On/Off switch next to “Camera” to OFF
  • Exit settings

How to Disable Photo GPS Geo-tag Feature on Androids

  • Open Camera Application
  • Click Menu
  • Click Settings Icon
  • Click Geo-tag Photos to Off

How to Disable Photo GPS Geo-tag Feature on a BlackBerry

  • Open Camera Application
  • Click Location icon and set to Disabled

How to Disable Photo GPS Geo-tag Feature on a Palm

  • Click the “Launcher” icon
  • Click Location Services app
  • Set “Geotag Photos” switch to “Off”

*Note: Some phones have older interfaces, but these instructions should get you close enough to get the job done.

Want to help keep other kids safe?

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