Pest Management Professional, April 2014

mobile matters The potential dangers of geotagging on your mobile device Dean Stanbridge Contributor G eotagging is a process that automatically adds geographical metadata to photos and other media created on a mobile or other device Metadata is really just data about data Its often embedded in files we create such as documents JPG files videos and spreadsheets Its hidden functionality is to permit users to collect data streams on everything from software versions to creation timelines to global positioning satellite GPS locations GPS functionality is common in todays smartphones but most of us dont take the time to see how that functionality might be invading our everyday privacy JPG metadata is typically quite extensive The data recorded from smartphones on every photo and video includes details of file size light source aperture speed lens type device type and geographical location It often also includes the device name you assigned when activating the unit For example mine shows up as Deans Phone but many people tag their devices with their full first and last names or their company names The great benefit from geotagging is any photo can be tracked to its author and location That means if youre at a clients location and take a picture of a problem situation and you send it to several co workers for advice the co workers could simply right click the picture That simple click will permit each user to get the exact location sometimes even the detail of its whereabouts within the location itself This is great if the photo will only be shared among your staff But lets say one of your staff finds the situation funny and forwards the photo to a friend We all know what happens to digital pictures they end up all over the Internet Along with the image then the information of you and your client is streamed extensively Im sure your clients would prefer their locations not become a billboard for cockroach infestations So how do we protect ourselves and our clients against the accidental disclosure of information The key to protecting yourself from the dangers of geotagging is knowing when to have the functions turned on and when to have them turned off The following are some simple instructions to disable geotagging for most common smart devices If using an iPhone disable it through the Settings page of the geotagging program Tap Settings then General then Location Services Disable the applications that use GPS data For older iPhones tap Reset Location Warnings under Reset to cause the phone to prompt you about using geolocations when using the relevant applications If you have a hard time remembering to disable the geolocating features of your iPhone consider leaving them off permanently On a Blackberry go to the camera icon Press the Menu button select Options and set the geotagging option to Disabled Click Save On an Android start the camera application Open the menu to the left and go to Settings Turn off Geotagging or Location storage the name depends on the version of Android you own If youre diligent about monitoring your geotagging and ensuring appropriate usage it can be a great function If youre like me and cant remember to turn the function off before you shoot that perfect shot in a not so perfect location then be wise and permanently disable this feature PMP You can reach Stanbridge a PMP and longtime technology columnist at dean@ directlinesales com 80 April 2014 Pest Management Professional www mypmp net