What The Tech: Blur your house in Street View
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and all this week I’m looking at ways to protect yourself, your family, and your money online.
Here’s something you might not think about: Google Maps could be giving strangers a detailed look at your home.
A closer look than you realize
Would you walk around town handing out photos of your house to strangers? Of course not.
But if someone finds your address online, they can open Google Maps or Google Earth, click a couple of times, and suddenly they’re looking at your home, even what’s parked in your driveway.
Law enforcement officials say tools like Google Maps and Street View can make it easier for criminals to “case” neighborhoods without ever driving through them. Pick any street and you can fly above the rooftops, spotting boats, pools, and sheds. Zoom in to Street View and the images are detailed enough to see cars, open garages, or even security cameras mounted on corners.
One house blurred, another wide open
If you’ve ever noticed a house on Street View that looks blurred or smudged, that’s because someone asked Google to hide it. The difference is striking: one home is crystal clear, while the one next door is nearly invisible.
You can do the same thing for your house in just a few steps.
How to blur your house on Google Maps
- Open Google Maps or Google Earth and search for your address.
- Click on the Street View image so you’re looking at your home from the street.
- Look for the three dots … and select “Report a problem.”
- Choose “Request blurring.”
- Line up your house (or your car or license plate) inside the red box.
- Confirm your email address and choose a reason. “Privacy concern” works fine.
Once Google reviews the request, your home will be permanently blurred on Street View. It won’t happen right away; it usually takes a few days, and Google says the blur cannot be undone. Still, it’s smart to check back every so often since Google updates its imagery regularly.
What blurring can (and can’t) do
Blurring your house doesn’t remove it completely.
It only hides the ground-level Street View image, not the satellite view from above.
Google automatically blurs faces and license plates, but it doesn’t blur homes or businesses unless the owner specifically asks. Because Street View images are taken from public roads, Google isn’t required to blur private property.
So while it won’t stop someone from finding your address, it’s a quick and easy way to keep your home a little more private in a world that sees almost everything.
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