In today’s digital age, privacy is often seen as a convenient myth, as everything is online. One’s personal life is shared publicly via humiliated, hacked emails and the unchecked posting of overconfidently submitted statuses on social media. Google Maps is a seemingly harmless tool that allows users to share their home addresses with anyone with internet access. However, the good news is that you can use Google Maps for privacy by blurring your home on it. The process will enhance your safety and potentially improve the safety of your place. This guide will walk you through blurring your home on Google Maps using a laptop or desktop computer. It’s pretty straightforward and takes only minutes.
Using Google Maps For Privacy: Why Blur Your Home?
There are very good reasons to consider blurring your house on Google Maps. The number one reason, of course, is personal privacy. Some individuals may be perfectly happy to have one’s house readily available online for everyone to view. However, others may be annoyed at the prospect and not want a virtual “procession” of unknowns by their front door.
Moreover, the information level in street views may lead to security dangers. The convenience of viewing property layout, entrance points, and surrounding land could pose a potential danger if left unchecked. Fortunately, the blur feature of Google Maps is not exclusive to celebrities. Anyone who desires some privacy for his/her details can access the blur feature.
Blurring Your Home: A Step-By-Step Guide
Here is a step-by-step guide to blurring your home in Google Maps:
1. Gear Up: Laptop Or Desktop Required
There is one very important thing you need to know how to do about blurring your home in Google Maps for privacy. This process works best on a laptop or desktop computer. While you can access the website using your mobile app, having a larger screen and mouse makes the navigation blur quite a bit easier.
2. Locating Your Home
Go to maps.google.com and search for your home address in the toolbar at the upper left corner of the screen. When your house is located on the map, click a red pin that brings up a pop-up window below the page.
3. Accessing Street View
Just click the “Street View” option in the pop-up window, and it will take you straight to the street-level view of your residence.
4. Reporting The Problem
Look in the bottom-right corner of your monitor. There you’ll see a somewhat thin black border that displays a message that includes the word “Report a Problem.” Now I realize that this is a bit hard to make out, so it’s pretty small, but click on this and you will initiate the blur work.
5. Selecting The Area To Blur
Clicking “Report a Problem” will prompt you to make use of your mouse or scroll pad to select the section of view you would like to blur. There is a red and black box that has appeared, acting as your guide. Move and readjust the box to ensure it frames in all of your house.
6. Providing Additional Information
Remember that this is not the end! Before Google leaves the premises, the company will ask you to describe what you’d like to blur out. Choose the option that best represents your wish that your address be rendered private by blurring.
7. Details Matter: Assisting Google’s Review Process
The more detail you include, the better it will be understood by Google’s team. Also, be sure to let them know you want the home blurred for privacy.
More detailed information helps Google know that such a home should be blurred and other objects in the picture should not be blurred, such as cars, people, or adjacent buildings.
8. Blurring Is Permanent: Weighing The Pros And Cons
Another important thing to keep in mind is that once Google accepts your request, blurring can’t be turned back. The issue may not be a significant concern for most individuals, but it is worth considering for potential future implications. Blurring your home can make it harder for potential homebuyers to view it in virtual tours while researching online. For the most part, though, privacy concerns are the greatest; the extra security and confidence overcome this inconvenience.
9. Blurring Beyond Your Home (With Limitations)
Blurring your home is crucial, but you can also blur other items within your property lines, such as cars or additional structures. Just remember that Google is apt to only allow you to blur regions that can be demonstrably proven to belong to you.
Google may contact you for clarification on your blur request if your initial submission is unclear, as per reports on CNet.
By following these steps, you can blur your home on Google Maps for privacy and potentially make your home safer. And sometimes, be sure that technology can be too much, but it pays to take a proactive measure to protect your privacy.
