Photo metadata

Photo metadata is hidden information stored inside an image file alongside the picture itself. A common standard for it is called EXIF. It can include the date and time a photo was taken, the phone or camera model, and often the exact GPS location where it was taken, if location tagging was on. That means a photo of your new sofa could reveal your home address. Most big social networks remove location metadata when you upload, but photos sent by email, file sharing or some messaging apps may keep it. You can turn off location tagging in your camera settings, and both iPhone and Android let you remove location from a photo before sharing it.