Checking your Photos for GPS Location data (EXIF metadata). - Cannabis Growing Outdoors - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums

TychoMonolyth · 01-19-2018, 04:01 PM

Hello Outdoor Growers.

I never thought about it until someone mentioned it in here recently, but I remember disabling GPS information on my phone's camera when I got it. Good thing I did because my location would possibly have been plastered all over the internet. It would have not only put me in the exact spot the picture was taken, but the exact time I was there. Nothing like wrapping up a case for LEO huh?

Even though GPS for my phone camera (and my 35mm SLR) is disabled, I decided to check my photos anyway. I was surprised to find information I'd rather not share.

Here's an EXIF Metadata Dump:
ExifTool Version Number : 10.75
File Name : MyGuerillaGrow.jpg
Directory : C:/Users/UserName/Downloads/1 images <--- This is only the location I had the file when I looked at it. Not a security issue.
File Size : 2.5 MB
File Modification Date/Time : 2017:08:21 14:02:55-05:00<--- I'd rather not have this here.
File Access Date/Time : 2017:08:19 08:58:57-05:00<--- I'd rather not have this here.
File Creation Date/Time : 2017:08:19 08:58:57-05:00<--- I'd rather not have this here.
File Permissions : rw-rw-rw-
File Type : JPEG
File Type Extension : jpg
MIME Type : image/jpeg
Exif Byte Order : Little-endian (Intel, II)
Make : Sony <--- I'd rather not have this here.
Camera Model Name : E6653 <--- I'd rather not have this here.
Orientation : Horizontal (normal)
X Resolution : 72
Y Resolution : 72
Resolution Unit : inches
Software : 32.4.A.1.54_0_f500 <--- I'd rather not have this here.
Modify Date : 2017:08:21 14:02:54 <--- I'd rather not have this here.
Y Cb Cr Positioning : Centered
Exposure Time : 1/64
F Number : 2.0
ISO : 50
Exif Version : 0220
Date/Time Original : 2017:08:21 14:02:54 <--- I'd rather not have this here.
Create Date : 2017:08:21 14:02:54 <--- I'd rather not have this here.
Components Configuration : Y, Cb, Cr, -
Shutter Speed Value : 1/64
Exposure Compensation : 0
Metering Mode : Multi-segment
Light Source : Unknown
Flash : Off, Did not fire
Focal Length : 4.2 mm
Soft Skin Effect : Off
Face Info Offset : 94
Sony Date Time : 2017:08:21 14:02:54 <--- I'd rather not have this here.
Sony Image Height : 2160
Sony Image Width : 3840
Faces Detected : 0
Face Info Length : 26
Meta Version :
Sub Sec Time : 679494
Sub Sec Time Original : 679494
Sub Sec Time Digitized : 679494
Flashpix Version : 0100
Color Space : sRGB
Exif Image Width : 3840
Exif Image Height : 2160
Interoperability Index : R98 - DCF basic file (sRGB)
Interoperability Version : 0100
Custom Rendered : Normal
Exposure Mode : Auto
White Balance : Auto
Digital Zoom Ratio : 1
Scene Capture Type : Standard
Subject Distance Range : Unknown
Compression : JPEG (old-style)
Thumbnail Offset : 21114
Thumbnail Length : 6340
Image Width : 3840
Image Height : 2160
Encoding Process : Baseline DCT, Huffman coding
Bits Per Sample : 8
Color Components : 3
Y Cb Cr Sub Sampling : YCbCr4:2:0 (2 2)
Aperture : 2.0
Image Size : 3840x2160
Megapixels : 8.3
Shutter Speed : 1/64
Create Date : 2017:08:21 14:02:54.679494 <--- I'd rather not have this here.
Date/Time Original : 2017:08:21 14:02:54.679494 <--- I'd rather not have this here.
Modify Date : 2017:08:21 14:02:54.679494 <--- I'd rather not have this here.
Thumbnail Image : (Binary data 6340 bytes, use -b option to extract)
Focal Length : 4.2 mm
Light Value : 9.0
--
Note: GPS Longitude and Latitude is not shown above because it's not recorded. If it was, it would be listed.

Resizing or even saving it in another format (gif, png) still retained the <--- I'd rather not have this here. information.

On a Window's box, using Right-Click-->Properties-->Details tab, look at the bottom and you see a link to "Remove Properties and Personal information". This does not remove ALL the info. But it's ok I guess.

If you take most of your photos on your phone, then it may make more sense to use an EXIF-removing app instead so you don’t have to involve your computer in the shoot-edit-upload process. Before you install a third-party app, first check your Camera app’s settings to see if you can disable EXIF data generation. Some camera apps may only let you disable location inclusion, while others may not allow you to disable EXIF at all. You may not need an app.

Android
Exif Eraser for Android (free)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...ing.exiferaser

IOS
Metapho for iOS (free)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/meta...uo=8&at=10l7an

It still doesn't remove a bit, and I'd rather not have anything recorded, but it's all about reducing risk, so I guess it ok.

For the technical folk:
https://sno.phy.queensu.ca/~phil/exiftool/
You can get the source there if you like as well.

For the techno peasants:
https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/3-ways...might-want-to/

Happy growing and good vibes going your way for 2018!

01-19-2018, 04:01 PM	#1
TychoMonolyth Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Lat 45n. Ottawa Montreal corridor Posts: 651	Checking your Photos for GPS Location data (EXIF metadata). Hello Outdoor Growers. I never thought about it until someone mentioned it in here recently, but I remember disabling GPS information on my phone's camera when I got it. Good thing I did because my location would possibly have been plastered all over the internet. It would have not only put me in the exact spot the picture was taken, but the exact time I was there. Nothing like wrapping up a case for LEO huh? Even though GPS for my phone camera (and my 35mm SLR) is disabled, I decided to check my photos anyway. I was surprised to find information I'd rather not share. Here's an EXIF Metadata Dump: ExifTool Version Number : 10.75 File Name : MyGuerillaGrow.jpg Directory : C:/Users/UserName/Downloads/1 images <--- This is only the location I had the file when I looked at it. Not a security issue. File Size : 2.5 MB File Modification Date/Time : 2017:08:21 14:02:55-05:00<--- I'd rather not have this here. File Access Date/Time : 2017:08:19 08:58:57-05:00<--- I'd rather not have this here. File Creation Date/Time : 2017:08:19 08:58:57-05:00<--- I'd rather not have this here. File Permissions : rw-rw-rw- File Type : JPEG File Type Extension : jpg MIME Type : image/jpeg Exif Byte Order : Little-endian (Intel, II) Make : Sony <--- I'd rather not have this here. Camera Model Name : E6653 <--- I'd rather not have this here. Orientation : Horizontal (normal) X Resolution : 72 Y Resolution : 72 Resolution Unit : inches Software : 32.4.A.1.54_0_f500 <--- I'd rather not have this here. Modify Date : 2017:08:21 14:02:54 <--- I'd rather not have this here. Y Cb Cr Positioning : Centered Exposure Time : 1/64 F Number : 2.0 ISO : 50 Exif Version : 0220 Date/Time Original : 2017:08:21 14:02:54 <--- I'd rather not have this here. Create Date : 2017:08:21 14:02:54 <--- I'd rather not have this here. Components Configuration : Y, Cb, Cr, - Shutter Speed Value : 1/64 Exposure Compensation : 0 Metering Mode : Multi-segment Light Source : Unknown Flash : Off, Did not fire Focal Length : 4.2 mm Soft Skin Effect : Off Face Info Offset : 94 Sony Date Time : 2017:08:21 14:02:54 <--- I'd rather not have this here. Sony Image Height : 2160 Sony Image Width : 3840 Faces Detected : 0 Face Info Length : 26 Meta Version : Sub Sec Time : 679494 Sub Sec Time Original : 679494 Sub Sec Time Digitized : 679494 Flashpix Version : 0100 Color Space : sRGB Exif Image Width : 3840 Exif Image Height : 2160 Interoperability Index : R98 - DCF basic file (sRGB) Interoperability Version : 0100 Custom Rendered : Normal Exposure Mode : Auto White Balance : Auto Digital Zoom Ratio : 1 Scene Capture Type : Standard Subject Distance Range : Unknown Compression : JPEG (old-style) Thumbnail Offset : 21114 Thumbnail Length : 6340 Image Width : 3840 Image Height : 2160 Encoding Process : Baseline DCT, Huffman coding Bits Per Sample : 8 Color Components : 3 Y Cb Cr Sub Sampling : YCbCr4:2:0 (2 2) Aperture : 2.0 Image Size : 3840x2160 Megapixels : 8.3 Shutter Speed : 1/64 Create Date : 2017:08:21 14:02:54.679494 <--- I'd rather not have this here. Date/Time Original : 2017:08:21 14:02:54.679494 <--- I'd rather not have this here. Modify Date : 2017:08:21 14:02:54.679494 <--- I'd rather not have this here. Thumbnail Image : (Binary data 6340 bytes, use -b option to extract) Focal Length : 4.2 mm Light Value : 9.0 -- Note: GPS Longitude and Latitude is not shown above because it's not recorded. If it was, it would be listed. Resizing or even saving it in another format (gif, png) still retained the <--- I'd rather not have this here. information. On a Window's box, using Right-Click-->Properties-->Details tab, look at the bottom and you see a link to "Remove Properties and Personal information". This does not remove ALL the info. But it's ok I guess. If you take most of your photos on your phone, then it may make more sense to use an EXIF-removing app instead so you don’t have to involve your computer in the shoot-edit-upload process. Before you install a third-party app, first check your Camera app’s settings to see if you can disable EXIF data generation. Some camera apps may only let you disable location inclusion, while others may not allow you to disable EXIF at all. You may not need an app. Android Exif Eraser for Android (free) https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...ing.exiferaser IOS Metapho for iOS (free) https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/meta...uo=8&at=10l7an It still doesn't remove a bit, and I'd rather not have anything recorded, but it's all about reducing risk, so I guess it ok. For the technical folk: https://sno.phy.queensu.ca/~phil/exiftool/ You can get the source there if you like as well. For the techno peasants: https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/3-ways...might-want-to/ Happy growing and good vibes going your way for 2018!
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