All Android and iPhone users warned about feature that ‘reveals your location to strangers’ – exact setting to change

A WARNING has urged phone users to disable the GPS function of their cameras to prevent their exact location from being revealed to strangers.

This simple change on an iPhone or Android can help protect your privacy and keep your personal information safe.

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The tip was brought to light by security expert McAfee on how to protect yourself on social media.

“Turn off your smartphone camera’s GPS function: If you plan to share images online,” McAfee he said.

“Be sure to turn off your device’s GPS to keep your exact location private.”

Many apps and devices come with geotagging features, which can transmit your location if location services are turned on.

Digital photos can also reveal your location through metadata, which includes the time, date, and GPS coordinates of where the photo was taken.

To protect your privacy, make sure geotagging is turned off on all devices.

KEEP THE SITE SAFE

There are a few other tips you should keep in mind before sharing photos with others to protect your location, according to McAfee.

Before clicking upload, take a moment and consider any risks.

You want to ask yourself a few questions before posting or sharing a photo.

Here’s a breakdown of the questions, by McAfee.

Could anything in this photo serve as an identifier?

Have I unintentionally disclosed personal information such as date of birth, visible home address, uniform, financial details or possible passwords?

Consider whether the photo you are about to share is something you would feel comfortable with a stranger seeing.

Take a moment to review your privacy settings, McAfee explained.

It’s important to remember that once a photo is uploaded, we lose control over who can view, edit and redistribute it, which may occur in ways we do not approve.

You can limit your audience to trusted friends and family by customizing your privacy settings on each social media platform.

Platforms like Facebook and Instagram offer settings that allow you to share posts and account access only with selected individuals.

Also, communicate your sharing preferences with others—it may feel uncomfortable, but it’s perfectly acceptable to ask friends and family to be careful when posting photos of you.

This request extends to any public comments that reveal personal information, such as vacation plans, your new home, or any other details that reveal too much information.

You can explain your concerns in a private message if necessary.