How Criminals Use Google Street View to Case the Joint GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Smart & Connected Life > Connected Car Tech 58 58 people found this article helpful

How Criminals Use Google Street View to Case the Joint

Blur your home on public maps to protect your safety

By Andy O'Donnell Andy O'Donnell Writer Auburn University Andy O'Donnell, MA, is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire and a senior security engineer who is active in internet and network security. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on December 8, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Connected Car Tech Navigation Android Auto Apple CarPlay Criminals launch Google Maps or Bing Maps, punch in an address, turn on Street View, and check out a residence or building of interest to perform virtual reconnaissance. The data isn't close to real-time and can be stale for some areas, but most major buildings aren't going to change a lot over a short period of time. Usually, the map data is time-stamped at the bottom of the image, so the bad guys know exactly when the image was taken.

Adverse Uses of Street Maps

Ill-intentioned people use Google Maps and Bing Maps to: Locate entrances to buildingsDetermine locations of security cameras, gates, etcFind good hiding placesFind holes or weak spots in perimeter fencesLocate utility boxes (power, water, gas)See what make, model, and color of vehicle a building occupant or resident drivesSee if locks, guards, dogs, etc., are normally presentMeasure distances between objects (using Google Earth) to determine how quickly it would take to run or drive from one point to another. Using Street View creates a lot less suspicion than if they were to actually visit the site and stand in the middle of the road for a look-see. Although mapping cars won't drive up a private drive, if the building is on or near a public street, it is fair. Google Maps is also supposed to automatically obscure (blur) text on buildings, license plates, people's faces, etc. However, even without those tidbits of data, there is still a lot of useful information provided through Street View.

How Can You Prevent Your Home or Business From Being Seen

Request to have your home, car, etc., removed from Google Maps Street View or Bing Maps Streetside View by using the "report a problem" link on the page when the image is centered on your home or business. You'll have to answer several questions, then Google and Bing will review your report and decide on the next steps. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Find Your House on Google Street View How to Use Live View on Google Maps How to Find the 'Doctor Who' TARDIS in Google Maps How to Blur Your House on Google Maps How to Add Google Maps to CarPlay How to Use Apple Maps Street View How to Get Street View on Google Maps 5G Cell Towers: Why You See Them and How They Work Can You Get Google Maps for iOS 6? 5 Tips for Using Google Maps Street View How to Stop Navigation Using Google Assistant Free Reverse Address Lookup Resources The 22 Best Free iPad Apps of 2022 How to Draw on Google Maps Apple Maps vs. Google Maps: What's the Difference? The 7 Best Traffic Apps of 2022 Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies