Questions and answers

Yes, if the camera recorded coordinates in the file's metadata. Details in the frame can also give the place away: shop signs, the view from a window, house numbers. So it is worth checking both the file and the image.

It is information about the shot that the camera writes into the file: the device model, the date and time, the shot settings and, if location is enabled, GPS coordinates. There is no need to fear it, but before posting it helps to know exactly what is recorded.

Not exactly a danger, but a mirror, a window or a dark screen sometimes shows more than you expected: the inside of your flat, the photographer's face, a note on the wall. Zoom in and look at shiny surfaces.

Not necessarily. Recipients may have saved a copy or forwarded it. Deleting removes your copy but does not bring back those already circulating, so it matters more to think before sending.

Many ways of sending images shrink them and recompress them with loss to save data. If you need to keep the quality, send the photo as a file or pass on the original another way.

PNG suits screenshots, diagrams and images with text better: it compresses without loss, so letters stay sharp. JPEG is good for photos, but it produces noticeable artefacts around text.

The GIF palette is limited to 256 colours, so smooth gradients and skin tones come out coarse. The format is designed for simple images and short animations, not for film.

No: detail that was not in the file will not appear when you enlarge it. Software can smooth the image, but real sharpness is only possible from a larger original.

No. Being available online does not cancel copyright: under Russian law (Article 1259 of the Russian Civil Code) a photograph is protected as a work, and it is the author or rights holder who decides where it may be used. Rules differ in other countries, so check local law.

Not always. Crediting the author is basic courtesy and often a licence condition, but on its own it does not replace permission. First make sure the use is allowed at all.

Under Russian law (Article 152.1 of the Russian Civil Code), as a general rule a person's image may be made public only with their consent; the law has exceptions, but you should not rely on them in everyday situations. Rules differ in other countries, so check local law. The simplest option is to ask everyone beforehand.

Use reverse image search: it shows pages where a similar picture appears. If you find your photo, start with a polite message to the site owner, and in serious cases consult a lawyer.