Today's youths often have the propensity to exchange salacious photos. Something that may draw attention to another crucial aspect of digital privacy which is often overlooked, Exchangeable Image File or EXIF Data.

It is a digital footprint of sorts containing useful information about when a photo was first taken. Which device it was on, the dimensions used and concerningly the geolocation of where it was first taken.

When an image is passed along online, most reputable services usually scrub the metadata to protect their users. Though you can't always assume this to be the case. As such, you may want to pass an image you intend to share through an EXIF scrubber to erase the metadata as a precautionary measure.

Though such measures may seem excessive at first glance, it is common practice for hackers, private investigators and law enforcement to sniff through EXIF data to ascertain your location. With that in mind, it is all the more important that you be wary of the photos you have and where you choose to share them.

Stay safe out there #Fediverse.

#CyberSecurity, #OpSec, #DigitalPrivacy