Be alert to the dangers of giving away your location online Dear Watch Member, A recent incident involving young people from Hertfordshire who filmed and broadcast a seemingly harmless video of themselves at their home address using an App on their mobile phone has highlighted some of the dangers of geo-tagged data. It is believed that unknown viewers of the video not only contacted the young people but also identified the house from where the video was made and followed them. Police offer the following advice: Think before you post. Remember that your message, post or broadcast could be recorded or copied and then shared anywhere online – so think carefully about what you are sharing. Consider your privacy. Consider who you are sharing your post with; we recommend you don’t share your location. Be aware that your images may be geotagged. This process adds geographical data to photographs, video, websites and SMS messages, capturing coordinates for things you post on the internet. Many people are unaware of geotagging in the gadgets they own. Many cameras and phones capture the precise location where an image was taken. Understand the risks involved. Geotagged posts and broadcasts could give someone the opportunity to know your exact whereabouts, for example which house you are in. Know when to use geotagging and when not to. There will be occasions when it's not appropriate to use geotagging, especially where the information you're sharing involves your home or another person's private residence. Know how to disable your phone or camera's geotagging feature. Most smart phones have the geotagging feature (sometimes called Location Services) automatically set to operate, so you need to put in the effort to prevent it from doing this. It's recommended that you disable geotagging and enable it only when you make a conscious decision to use it; it's better to opt in than to try to remember to opt out. If you need to reply regarding this message, click on this email address: [email protected] Regards, Derrick Sweeney Watch Liaison Officer Neighbourhood Watch Email: [email protected] Tel: 01707 355841

Be alert to the dangers of giving away your location online · Be alert to the dangers of giving away your location online Dear Watch Member, ... Many people are unaware of geotagging

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Be alert to the dangers of giving away your location online

Dear Watch Member,

A recent incident involving young people from Hertfordshire who filmed and broadcast a seemingly harmless video of themselves at their home address using an App on their mobile phone has highlighted some of the dangers of geo-tagged data. It is believed that unknown viewers of the video not only contacted the young people but also identified the house from where the video was made and followed them.

Police offer the following advice:

Think before you post. Remember that your message, post or broadcast could be recorded

or copied and then shared anywhere online – so think carefully about what you are sharing.

Consider your privacy. Consider who you are sharing your post with; we recommend you

don’t share your location.

Be aware that your images may be geotagged. This process adds geographical data to

photographs, video, websites and SMS messages, capturing coordinates for things you post on the internet. Many people are unaware of geotagging in the gadgets they own. Many cameras and phones capture the precise location where an image was taken.

Understand the risks involved. Geotagged posts and broadcasts could give someone the

opportunity to know your exact whereabouts, for example which house you are in.

Know when to use geotagging and when not to. There will be occasions when it's not

appropriate to use geotagging, especially where the information you're sharing involves your home or another person's private residence.

Know how to disable your phone or camera's geotagging feature. Most smart phones have the geotagging feature (sometimes called Location Services) automatically set to operate, so you need to put in the effort to prevent it from doing this. It's recommended that you disable geotagging and enable it only when you make a conscious decision to use it; it's better to opt in than to try to remember to opt out.

If you need to reply regarding this message, click on this email address: [email protected]

Regards, Derrick Sweeney

Watch Liaison Officer Neighbourhood Watch Email: [email protected] Tel: 01707 355841

mailto:[email protected]?subject=RE:%20(OWL)%20Be%20alert%20to%20the%20dangers%20of%20giving%20away%20your%20location%20online