The problem with geotagging is that the information can be read by anyone. If you upload a geotagged photo to the Internet then anyone with the ability to view the photo can check the location the photo was taken.

While that often is not a problem, some users may want to avoid this from happening because of privacy concerns. In addition, there is a chance that criminals exploit the photo information as well, either to find out that you are on holiday currently and not at home, or to locate you or the people on the photo in the world.

Geotag Security is a free software program for Windows that can remove geotags from photos. The program displays a simple wizard that walks the user through the removal of geotags in selected photos.

It starts with the selection of a folder that contains photos and images that should be processed by the software program.

The program scans the folder for images and displays the number of photos found, the files with secure geotags and the files with non-secure geotags that have been secured by Geotag Security. Subfolders are automatically included in the scan.

A log is displayed that displays scan and photo processing information. The log displays a list of all scans performed by the program.

The next window is only available for users who have purchased Geotag Security Pro. The commercial version can monitor folders for new photos to process them automatically.

Users who want to download Geotag Security can download the program at the developer website. (via)

I stumbled across loc.alize.us. loc.alize.us is a bookmarklet and website which uses Google Maps for geotagging. It is remarkably simple to use and quite minimalist.

The bookmarklet works through going to one of your photos on Flickr, hitting the bookmarklet, searching for the location using Google Maps, clicking the location and pressing save. Pretty simple, if you ask me! I find this much quicker than Flickr’s service and Google Maps, in my opinion, is much better than Yahoo! Maps.

Their website allows users to explore geotagged photographs, much like the explore option on Flickr’s maps. Once again, the difference is primarily choice. It allows users to use Google Maps, which has much better satellite coverage for example, rather than Yahoo! Maps. Results, naturally, can be refined by user etc.

loc.alize.us allows its maps to be embedded into website. I question the practical uses of this, but it’s still a good idea. I believe Flickr lacks this.

loc.alize.us doesn’t offer anything important that Flickr doesn’t. The key difference is the mapping site it uses; and that’s one big difference!