That has surprised me several times and the only place I post pics now is here, so many of them have come from this site. It IS freaky the first time you see one of your own out there isn't it?

If you click the link that appears saying 'Website for this image', it'll take you to where your picture came from. Most of mine are from here.

Here is a link that might be useful: My mantel is pics 3 & 4 in ths site, snagged from GW

Even worse, I posted a pic of our neighbours house when I was trying to decide on a porch style for our house and then later found it popped up when I was googling a specific paint colour. I really hope they never find it. I wouldn't be happy if the roles were reversed.

That's hysterical, it must have been a shock to you, lol.

Yes, several times and it's FREAKY! One of mine was on the front page also and it wasn't a recent picture I'd posted either so it makes you wonder, why is it on the front page? Creepy.

Yes, our Big Chill fridge comes up all the time, but that's way more specific than just "art over fireplace".

M3D: Oh my gosh, these sites must hire people to surf GW for pics they can use. That really creeps me out!

Daisy: that would worry me, too! Hope they don't either.

Yaya: yes, it was really shocking! It was also a wake-up call for me and others here to think twice before posting any pics online. I'm not saying that we shouldn't, but there may be times when it's prudent to abstain.

Oakley: Yes, I'm not surprised, now that I'm hearing all this that yours and M3D's pics have shown up. You both have beautiful homes. Still, it is a bit creepy, isn't it?

Gschick: that's both funny and creepy at the same time!

Yep, surprised me when I was googling porches and came across the screened porch at my boathouse.

Then I read how you find it--I don't know the terms but you copy the link and click the little camera on the search images on google.

It will show everyplace that photo is on the internet--found out my photo that I posted here on Gardenweb (the ONLY place I post photos) was on a private blog or two and on the front page of some company that builds porches or something, and some website over in Japan I think. Several places.

So, yes--people I think come here to get photos and use them in their businesses and blogs and just to share.

I have always loved your home Lynninnewmexico so I'm not surprised, but I would be surprised if it was the only one! Your kitchen is beautiful.

Demi's talking about a Google Image search.

Google
Image
in the search box, far right, there is a tiny camera. Click on it and a box pops up with browse feature.

Find the photo on your desktop/computer you want to look for, and you'll see where they are on the internet.

I still can't get over that website using Photoshop to put a wall in my kitchen so that they could hang artwork on it (sold artwork and a million other things). Also placed oil bottles, etc on island. *eyesrolling* It's been removed from their website but pinned on Pinterest too many times. I hate it.

I've seen quite a few of my photos in a google search. My online photo storage is smugmug, and they give a list of sites that refer views of each photo accessed from the web. One of the sites linking to my library curtains is Japanese! GW has a loooonnng reach :-)

I don't think it's creepy, or even surprising really. (Although your is Allison since they altered the pic.) Nothing posted on the www is private. I think when doing a search for house decorating stuff, GW and Houzz seem to be copied alot. So are many blogs . . .

tina

I've tripped over 'the Sweeby test' in random Google searches before -- always takes me by surprise!

I don't find it 'creepy'/surprising either~~with sites like facebook, nothing should be surprising. I love the internet for all it can provide, but the down side is, it *can* be an intrusion on your 'personal space'.

If you don't want something to be seen by possibly thousands, don't 'put it out there' for the whole internet world to see. Just my 2 cents. ;o)

Patty cakes,

I'm always telling my kids that, but it is so easy to forget when you're focused on getting something done. I can see why teenagers get in so much trouble with this. We had someone come to our school to talk to the kids about it and she said that if you wouldn't walk around the school at lunch time with whatever it was written on a huge sign above your head, don't put it out on the internet. I try to follow that rule, but sometimes, like posting pics of your home (or someone elses - oops), it doesn't really seem like a big deal, but later on you regret it. No givesy backsyies.

OK, most everybody probably knows this about Photobucket, where a lot of us store our pics to post, but this is a reminder to all.
Go to your PB home page. On the Blue Banner that leads over to your name; move your cursor over the "Home" button;on the banner that drops down below, click on "Stats". This will show you just how many views each of your posted pics have had in a day, a week and a month. Kind of eye-opening! For example, on August 4th, the day after I started this thread, there were 155 views of the photo I posted of my mantel. That's just one day for that one pic. There were more both before and after that. You all should check your own to see for yourselves.

Now, I was about to tell you to check your privacy settings over on PB, but the drop-down button for it only appears infrequently, which has me a bit concerned.
Just a few minutes ago, I could go to my PB Home page. Go to the blue banner; hover your cursor over the Home button; on the drop down banner below it, there sometimes is a Privacy button. You click on that and then click on Privacy & Emails Settings; click on Privacy Settings/Content Privacy.
There . . . if you can get there (they don't make it easy), check the box "when I upload, permanently remove information about where my photos were taken".
Also there, uncheck if it's checked, the box that says, "allow others to copy my photos and videos". That is, if you want to keep you photos a bit more private.
If you do get there, I'd strongly suggest reading all your options and making decisions then and there. You may not be able to get back to your privacy site for a while.
Just a heads-up.
Lynn

. . . to the Privacy settings for Photobucket, I mean. Go to your home page. On the blue banner, click on your name, which is on the far right of the banner. Then click on "Account Settings".The lower blue banner will now give you the "Privacy" option. Go on from there as I talked about in my last post.
Lynn

Thanks lynninewmexico! I'm off to check.

OMG, lynn!!! I just checked those stats. That is insane! There are pics that I posted years ago that got 25 viewings. I thought it was 25 for the last few years, but that's just for the last few days!

A little while ago, someone posted for advice on something to do with their kitchen. When I saw the picture, I thought it was my own kitchen. Same colour cabinetry (which isn't an everyday colour), same countertop, same light fixture, etc. The picture was even taken from the same angle as one I posted of my finished kitchen. When I looked closer, I realized it wasn't mine and just thought that it was coincidence that someone had put together the same kitchen as we did. Now, I'm kind of wondering if it was just coincidence or if it was copied from my pic. I'm not upset if it was, but it just feels kinda weird.

I changed my privacy settings. Thanks for the info on how to do it. You say in your message that everyone knows this, but I certainly didn't. Thanks again for sharing.

Glad to be of help, Daisy. You know, what really concerns me is that if you don't specifically check the boxes keeping your PB pics and albums private or accessible only with a password you give to certain people, when you do post a pic online, such as in this forum, someone can click on that posted pic and it will take them to all your PB albums that aren't private. I didn't know this myself at first. One day I clicked on someone else's posted photo without thinking and it took me to her Photobucket album. That album had photos of her kids, her home etc. from a recent holiday! I didn't stay around to snoop, but emailed her right away to tell her. She totally freaked out, having no idea they were accessible to anyone anywhere . . . and for any reason.
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm very protective of my family and won't post pics of them online.

I have always felt uneasy about PB. Is there a better one than that?

Yes I found a picture from my Photobucket on a Rottweiler discussion board. At least they didn't say anything cruel.

It's a Rottweiler tattoo I have. It was surprising to read the discussion. I introduced myself and claimed the picture. Met some nice people with a shared interest.