Google Street View, launched in 2007, provides a street-level view of many cities and towns around the world.
In 2010, the company admitted that, when their vehicles are circling neighborhoods around the world, they have been secretly collecting information from unencrypted WiFi networks they drove past for years.
If you are concerned with your privacy, there’s a way to blur your house on Street View. Here’s the procedure:
- Access Google Maps.
- Enter into Street View mode by dragging the human-shaped icon (that is in the bottom-right corner) into the front of your house.
Note: If the street doesn’t have a blue line (like the one in the image bellow), Street View doesn’t have an image of your house available. - Once in the Street View with your house in the view, click “Report a problem” in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
- The above will open a new window with an Image preview and you will need to center on your home and in the “Request blurring” question, select “My home”.
- In the provided field, write why you want your image to be blurred (e.g. “This is my house and I am concerned with the safety of my family.”).
- Add your email address (which is required) and press “Submit” to send your Report.
Note: Google will warns one that this will be permanent, so be sure it is what you want.
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