Cybercase - when it has a name is it time to worry?

Wired Magazine defines "cybercase":

v. To scope out a joint using geotagged data written into digital photos posted online. By browsing images of luxury goods on sites like Flickr and craigslist, theives can often glean the exact location of the loot and then plot a targeted break-in.

Think about it. How many people take and share pictures using mobile phones. These phones often have GPS. GPS can be enabled to tag the location of pictures, so that you know where the picture was taken.

This can be great! Years from now you can find that town with the quirky old ice-cream parlour (even if it is gone!) or that lake or that swimming hole...

But there is a dark side - public sharing of these pictures can allow others to find the location too. Imagine if your kids send pictures to a friend - or someone they met online? The picture could unwittingly give the other person their current location - lead them to your house?

Learn how to manage these options on your mobile phone? When taking pictures for public sharing, consider turning off the "geotagging" feature.

On a BlackBerry (Bold / 9700) for example the option can be set under Camera Options (click Berry button, select Options), and change Geotaggin option:

The default is disabled which does NOT record location.

Consider the benefits to having it turned on and the risks if you share your pictures publicly (Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, etc.).

Make a decision that works for you.

 

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