Removing location information from your image metadata?

[GoodShave]

I follow computer security/privacy trends, so this may be more out of paranoia than anything, but how do know if your
digital images have location information, and if they do, how do you remove it?

I have a really old Nikon D100 DSLR and usually shoot in raw format and then convert the images in batch using UFRAW.
My wife's point and shoot camera is a Cannon ELPH of some model.

I run Linux on my computers, not Windows, so Windows tools would not be helpful to me (unless they also are available
for Linux as well).

I have been hesitant to post any pictures since I don't know how to check for this metadata and how to remove it.

Any tips are appreciated.

 

[Mick]

Go to where the image is located on your computer with windows explorer

Right click and select the "properties" option

On the tab marked "Details" at the bottom you will find a link that says "Remove Properties and personal information" Click on that

Use the select all option and then click OK

The properties should be pretty much cleared.

You can check your camera and you should have a way to set what data it records along with the photo

EDIT:

Did not read the "Linux" part so all of this is pretty useless to you

This might be helpful: http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/howto-strip-jpeg-metadata/

 

[Edcculus]

Do you have any personal info loaded into the camera? If its really old, its unlikely that the camera has GPS. I'm not 100% up on exactly what data is recorded, but as long as you turn off those features in teh camera, you should be safe. Its not like the camera records your name, SS#, address etc. If your camera does not have GPS, it will not geotag your pictures. Additionally, mostly what is recorded in exif data is technical info. Camera, model, aperture shutter speed, shooting mode, flash used, etc.

If you are really worried, I'd look for a tool that will strip exif data from the file. I have no idea what it would be on Linux, but i'm sure one exists.

 

[GoodShave]

Go to where the image is located on your computer with windows explorer

Right click and select the "properties" option

On the tab marked "Details" at the bottom you will find a link that says "Remove Properties and personal information" Click on that

Use the select all option and then click OK

The properties should be pretty much cleared.

You can check your camera and you should have a way to set what data it records along with the photo

EDIT:

Did not read the "Linux" part so all of this is pretty useless to you

This might be helpful: http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/howto-strip-jpeg-metadata/

Thanks Turtle!

The information on that web site looks very promising.

 

[GoodShave]

Do you have any personal info loaded into the camera? If its really old, its unlikely that the camera has GPS. I'm not 100% up on exactly what data is recorded, but as long as you turn off those features in teh camera, you should be safe. Its not like the camera records your name, SS#, address etc. If your camera does not have GPS, it will not geotag your pictures. Additionally, mostly what is recorded in exif data is technical info. Camera, model, aperture shutter speed, shooting mode, flash used, etc.

If you are really worried, I'd look for a tool that will strip exif data from the file. I have no idea what it would be on Linux, but i'm sure one exists.

Thanks Edcculus!

The Exif utilities I have worked with have not displayed any GPS info but I haven't gone looking for it either.
I wasn't sure if there might be other metadata in an image beyond the Exif data.
In a day and age where more information about you leaks without your knowledge, I try to be on the cautious side.
I will take a look at some of the images that I have taken from a few of my cameras and see what information I can see.

Thanks again!

 

[lister]

EXIF data definitely the way to go, but its worth noting products like the Eye-Fi SD memory card can add geo-tagging to virtually an SD card compatible camera. It's not true GPS (sort of more like AGPS in mobile phones) but they can record specific geotagged data in the image metadata.

 

[jb4647]

I love the GPS metadata on my iphone photos and never remove them. It allows me to keep a record of all the places I've been. Even I've I'm shooting with my Canon 5DMkII I take at least a couple of photos of the same scene with my iphone so I know later where the photos was taken. Creates a nice travelogue.