People are learning the important reason why you should blur your house on Google Maps

We've all seen those street view snaps, where an unsuspecting resident has been photographed outside their house by one of the Google Maps cameras.

The car has captured all kinds of incidents in the past, like one man who was carrying a tent on his bike (which internet sleuths mistook for a body) to what people think was a UFO flying over Bermuda.

But did you know you can actually blur out yourself or your property on Google Maps?

People are realizing just how important it is to do so, considering just about everyone uses the tool.

Robert Alexander/Getty Images

If you want to blur your property, it's really easy to do.

All you need to do is head to the Google Maps app and enter your home address.

Once you're outside your property, you can click 'report a problem'. The app will then ask you why you are reporting the image.

You can then select 'request blurring' and select 'my home'.

You'll want to drag the box over your entire property (so including any outside buildings or gardens) to make sure it blurs everything.

You'll then need to enter your email address to confirm the changes.

And beware, you can't undo the request once it's been made!

There's an important reason why more people are starting to blur their homes on Google, and it's all to do with privacy.

Of course, having your home on view comes with security risks. For example, potential burglars could use the app to learn more about your home, such as potential entry points that may be more accessible or out of view from street lights or door cams.

Though Google says it automatically blurs 'identifying information like faces and licence plates', if you somehow slipped through, you might want to request that to be blurred as well.

Google Maps

“Google takes a number of steps to protect the privacy of individuals when Street View imagery is published to Google Maps," Google explains.

“We have developed cutting-edge face and licence plate blurring technology that is designed to blur identifiable faces and licence plates within Google-contributed imagery in Street View.

“If you see that your face or licence plate requires additional blurring, or if you would like us to blur your entire house, car or body, submit a request using the ‘Report a problem’ tool.”

So if you ever spot the Google Maps camera cruising down your road while you're out in your PJs, at least you know you can blur yourself out ASAP.

Topics: Google, News, Technology, Google Maps

Lucy Devine