MyHeriage is offering free access to more than 300 Australian historical record collections, including vital records, electoral rolls, convict records, and much more! The records will be free starting Saturday through Tuesday, January 25–28, 2025.

The free records include 118.9 million historical records from every category. These records can help Australians piece together the stories of their ancestors, whether they were among the first settlers, immigrants seeking a new life, or individuals who contributed to the nation’s development in other ways.

Usually, a Complete, Data, or Omni plan is required to view these records, but for a limited time only, anyone can search and view them for free. Note that non-MyHeritage users will be asked to create a free MyHeritage account to access them.

In an earlier newsletter, I wrote about adding location information to family photographs. I also mentioned that "... pictures taken with iPhones and most Android phones already have the longitude and latitude information embedded into the photograph."

In some cases, you might not want to have location information embedded in a photograph, especially one that is to be shared online. A picture of your children or grandchildren playing at hone or in the back yard might be one example. In theory, a pedophile could determine where the children spend their time. Also, you might not want a picture of your expensive new automobile parked in your driveway to be circulated online. An auto thief could easily find where to steal the auto.

If you are a fisherman, you might not want to broadcast to the world the location of your secret fishing spot as detailed in the EXIF information of the photo of you holding up that 6-pound lake trout you just caught!

Luckily, it is easy to erase location information from photographs, should you wish to do so.

Undoubtedly the easiest way to stop recording location information from being recorded in your photos is to disable the feature in your iPhone or Android phone before taking the picture. That is easy to do. Instructions for turning off iPhone location information may be found by starting at https://goo.gl/izf58A while similar information for Android phones may be found by starting at https://goo.gl/dVZ0rH.

Admittedly, many people won't think about the problem until after the picture has been taken. Should that happen to you, don't despair. Deleting the EXIF information (containing location and other information) is easy to accomplish.

Windows

On a Windows computer, display the picture files you wish to "sanitize" by removing EXIF information. In File Explorer, right-click on one of the picture files and choose Properties from the contextual menu.

When the Properties box opens, select the Details tab. At the bottom of the box, click the link for “Remove Properties and Personal Information.” In the Remove Properties box that appears, you can choose to create a copy of the photo that wipes as much information as possible from the file. You can also opt instead to use the original file and delete data selectively.

If you stick with the original file, go down the list of properties in the box and select the information you want to remove from the file. Click the OK button when you are finished.

Repeat the process for each photo you want to edit. 

If you have a large number of pictures to change, third-party EXIF-editing programs can delete the information from many photographs at once. Exif Remover is a free web-based utility that will remove EXITF information. It can be found at http://www.verexif.com/en.

BatchPurifier for Windows is one popular program that will clear EXITF data from all sorts of photographs, videos, music files, and other file types. A free demo version BatchPurifier is available at http://www.digitalconfidence.com/batchpurifier.html but it is limited to only cleaning EXIF information from JPG files. For many people, that will suffice. However, if you would like to clear EXIF data from up to 25 different file types, including Microsoft Office® documents (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)*, OpenOffice™ documents, PDF documents, and popular image and media file types such as JPEG, JPEG 2000, PNG, SVG, AVI, WAV, AIFF, MP3, MP4, and F4V), the paid version of BatchPurifier may be purchased for $19 from the same address.

Macintosh

On a Macintosh computer, open up your photo in the Preview app, go to Tools in your menu bar and select Show Inspector.  Click on the (i) icon for the info panel, select the GPS sub tab, and you’ll see a “Remove Location Info” button. Hit that, save your photo, and you’re ready for location-free uploading.

NOTE: In the Macintosh's Preview app, if there is no GPS tab shown or if the (i) or GPS tab display all blanks, that indicates that the picture does not have location data embedded in it. Also keep in mind that EXIF data, including location information, is only found in JPG and TIFF pictures that have been taken with a GPS-equipped camera, such as with an iPhone or an Android. Most other cameras are incapable of recording location information although there are a few exceptions. 

If you have a large number of pictures to change, third-party EXIF-editing programs can delete the information from many photographs at once. Exif Remover is a free web-based utility that will remove EXITF information. It can be found at http://www.verexif.com/en.

iLove Metadata Remover is an app that may be purchased from the Macintosh App Store. See https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ilove-metadata-remover/id1091268452?mt=12 for details.

Android and iPhone

Several apps for Android and iPhone will also erase location information. To find one, open the use your iPhone or Android phone to open the Play Store nd search for "EXIF remover."  There should be several to choose from.

Summation

Location information embedded in EXIF information in digital photographs can be a great tool for many purposes. However, there may be times when you do not want to share location information. Use the tool wisely.

UK-based genealogy service Findmypast has appointed creative outfit Above+Beyond at its new lead agency partner following a competitive pitch process.

The London-based firm will now be tasked with helping to make Findmypast a household name throughout the UK, with a brand refresh and the launch of a new brand platform in the works.

‘Rooted in Culture’ will illustrate to audiences how the genealogy service can help users to look beyond just dates and names on their family tree, and delve deeper into their past to gain a greater understanding of the lives their ancestors lived.

“This is an exciting next step in Findmypast’s evolution as we aim to help more people understand family history research. Thanks to our clever hint technology and extensive newspaper archive, Findmypast will help you delve deeper to gain that understanding of your family history and help you to understand why they lived the lives they did,” said Findmypast director of brand Helen Kaye.

“We’re delighted to be working with Above+Beyond, the partnership and collaboration in delivering the new brand platform has been inspiring and they truly share our passion for helping people better understand their family history.”

An inaugural campaign, using the new tagline: ‘Your Family History Understood’, is set to run across social media, display, print and radio, with more to come throughout the year.

Above+Beyond ECD, Joe Bruce added: “It’s not very often you get to work with a brand that has such a clear USP, not to mention a bottomless collection of amazing stories, photographs and culturally rich material to play with.

“We are really excited to be working with the whole team at Findmypast, it’s a real privilege to be trusted by such a knowledgeable and passionate group of people.”

FTC settlement proposal says GoDaddy was "blind" to security threats in its web hosting, will require implementation of better security.

The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charged GoDaddy with violations of the Federal Trade Commission Act for allegedly maintaining “unreasonable” security practices that led to multiple security breaches. The FTC’s proposed settlement order will require GoDaddy to take reasonable steps to tighten security and engage third-party security assessments.

FTC Charged GoDaddy With Security Failures

The FTC complaint charged GoDaddy with misrepresenting itself as a secure web host through marketing on its website, in emails and it’s “Trust Center”, alleging that GoDaddy provided customers with “lax data security” in its web hosting environment.

The FTC complaint (PDF) stated:

“Since at least 2015, GoDaddy has marketed itself as a secure choice for customers to host their websites, touting its commitment to data security and careful threat monitoring practices in multiple locations, including its main website for hosting services, its “Trust Center,” and in email and online marketing.

In fact, GoDaddy’s data security program was unreasonable for a company of its size and complexity. Despite its representations, GoDaddy was blind to vulnerabilities and threats in its hosting environment. Since 2018, GoDaddy has violated Section 5 of the FTC Act by failing to implement standard security tools and practices to protect the environment where it hosts customers’ websites and data, and to monitor it for security threats.”

Proposed Settlement

The FTC is proposing that GoDaddy implement a security program to settle charges that it failed to secure its web hosting services, endangering their customers and the people who visited their customer’s compromised websites during major security breaches between 2019 and 2022.

The settlement proposes the following to settle the charges with GoDaddy:

“Prohibit GoDaddy from making misrepresentations about its security and the extent to which it complies with any privacy or security program sponsored by a government, self-regulatory, or standard-setting organization, including the EU-U.S. and Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield Frameworks;

Require GoDaddy to establish and implement a comprehensive information-security program that protects the security, confidentiality, and integrity of its website-hosting services; and

Mandate that GoDaddy hire an independent third-party assessor who conducts an initial and biennial review of its information-security program.”

You can read the FTC statement at: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/01/ftc-takes-action-against-godaddy-alleged-lax-data-security-its-website-hosting-services

The most secure PC operating system available today for private citizens is Linux or possibly UNIX. However, Linux is the much more popular product of the two so I will focus only on that operating system. The fact that Linux runs well on older, lower-powered PCs is a bonus. 

A few years ago, Linux had a reputation for being difficult to install, difficult to maintain, and also awkward to install new programs. Those days are now ancient history. The more popular Linux versions of today for desktop and laptop computers are easier to install, easier to maintain, easier to upgrade, and easier to add new programs than is Windows  or Macintosh. Anyone who is a computer novice should be able to learn to use a modern Linux distribution in a very short time, shorter than learning to use Windows. Most of today's more popular Linux versions are even easier to use than a Macintosh.

Comment: Watch the Mac users post messages disagreeing with me. Please don't post such comments unless you have used one of the modern, user-friendly versions of Linux for an extended period of time within the past 2 or 3 years.

On my desk, I have Macintosh, Linux, Android, and Chromebook, systems. I have quite a bit of experience with each of them

Also, Linux is cheap. Well, no... actually is is FREE. Linux-based desktop operating systems are just a free download away. Since today's Linux systems also run significantly faster on any PC than does the newer versions of Windows, you can keep using your older PC for several more years by using Linux. Another thought is that maybe you recently purchased a shiny new Windows machine and your old computer is gathering dust in the closet. If so, pull it out, download and install Linux, and learn something new. You may find that you like it!

If your present Windows  or Macintosh machine seems to be running slow, you might think about trying Linux. If you are frustrated by the constant updates and by all the privacy concerns of Windows, take Linux for a test drive.  In fact, you can even dual-boot your present computer if you still have enough disk space available. If you do that, when you boot the system, you will be asked if you want to run Windows or Linux. If you select "Windows," you will soon be running your present Windows operating system, complete with all your normal programs and data files in place.

If you select "Linux," you will soon be running the newly-installed Linux system. Not only will it be faster, it will also be much more secure. Viruses and other malware are so rare on Linux that you can essentially ignore the potential problems. To be sure, there are anti-virus programs available for Linux but I don't think many copies of those programs are sold.

Another option is to install Linux onto a CD-ROM disk, commonly called a "Live CD," or onto a flash drive. When you want to run Windows, boot up in the same manner you always have. When you want to run Linux, boot down, insert the Linux "Live CD" into the CD drive or insert the flash drive inti a USB connector, and boot up. You will then be running Linux without overwriting any information on your computer's hard drive (unless you deliberately want to overwrite something). Later, remove the Linux "Live CD” or flash drive, reboot, and you will return to normal Windows operation as if the computer has never seen Linux. 

The major drawback of "Live CDs" and flash drives is that running an operating system from a CD drive or flash drive is slower than doing the same thing from a hard drive. However, "Live CDs" are an excellent way of taking Linux for a "test drive;" try it out for a while before you make a commitment to put Linux onto your hard drive.

One of the major drawbacks is that there are very few genealogy programs available for Linux. However, there is one very good one and it is available free of charge. GRAMPS (Genealogical Research and Analysis Management Programming System) is free, open source, genealogy software. GRAMPS is easy to install, easy to use, and contains most of the features found in today’s leading Windows and Macintosh genealogy programs.

Of course, the most attractive part of GRAMPS is its price tag:  FREE. Versions for Windows and Macintosh are also available. GRAMPS may be found at https://gramps-project.org.

There are a few other genealogy programs available for Linux as well but most of them are a bit complex and require an understanding of Linux internals to make them work. For that reason, I do not recommend any of those programs to the Linux newcomer. The same is true for WINE, CrossOver, VirtualBox, and other products designed to run Windows programs on a Linux system. While all of them are very good products, the complexity of installing and configuring those products makes me hesitate to recommend them to Linux newcomers.

Want to install GRAMPS on your Linux system? If you can move and click the mouse, you can install GRAMPS and start using it within a very few minutes. That's true even if you do not know how to spell "Linux."

There are hundreds of other easy-to-use Linux applications that will perform the computer tasks that most people want: Firefox web browser, several powerful word processors, email programs, graphics and image processing programs, budget tracking tools, and lots of games. Most of these programs are available free of charge.

Of course, Linux can also use nearly all the web-based applications, including Ancestry.com, MyHeritage.com, FamilySearch.org, Findmypast.com, WeRelate.org, WikiTree.com, The Next Generation of Genealogy Sitebuilding, WebTrees, and many, many more cloud-based program as well.

Another "problem" (well, it isn't much of a problem) is deciding which version of Linux you want to use. There are dozens of Linux versions, called "distributions." Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. If you do not know which version is best for you, I suggest you start with Linux Mint. You can always switch to something else later, after you gain experience with Linux and can better decide which version best fits your needs. 

Comment: In this case, the word "Mint" refers to the tasty and aromatic herb, not to the place where they make money.

Linux Mint is a good place for newcomers to begin. It is available in two versions and both versions, the Mate and Cinnamon desktop environments, of Linux Mint should prove familiar to Windows converts. Since Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu (another popular and friendly version of Linux), there are a ton of compatible programs that are easily downloaded.

Another great thing about Linux Mint is that it only uses LTS versions of Ubuntu for its base.  Those buzzwords can be loosely translated as meaning, "this version of Linux is mature and is expected to be around for a long time to come."

Linux Mint's minimum system requirements are 2 GB of RAM, 20 GB of disk space, and a resolution of 1024 x 768. For a more comfortable experience, 4 GB of RAM is recommended. 

Recommended system requirements: 

That old PC in your closet probably meets those requirements.

You can learn more about Linux Mint at https://www.linuxmint.com/. If you would like to do some reading first before diving in, look at the documentation (available in many languages) at https://www.linuxmint.com/documentation.php.

So, is Linux and specifically Linux Mint perfect? No. Absolutely not. However, it is really good and will work just fine on most older PCs built 3 to perhaps 8 years ago. There is also a Macintosh version as well. Mac users will want to first do some reading by starting at: https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=321387.

Linux, and especially Linux Mint, is easy to install, easy to use, fun, educational, and available free of charge. What do you have to lose?

JonBenét Ramsey’s father, John Ramsey, still believes there's a chance her murder will be solved nearly three decades later after a DNA breakthrough.

“We are encouraged that the police will finally use the FBI’s skills and resources to help solve our case,” John, 81, told The U.S. Sun on Thursday, December 26, which marked the 28th anniversary of JonBenét’s death.

John plans to have a sit-down with new chief of Boulder Police Stephen Redfearn about the case. They specifically will discuss recruiting the FBI to help and using new DNA testing to narrow down their suspect list.

“Suppose they now use cutting-edge DNA labs to develop a DNA profile in the proper format for familial genealogy research," John noted. “In that case, we have pretty good odds of finding the killer’s identity.”

John and Redfearn are expected to meet in January to address assistance from advanced forensic experts, according to Today. DNA profiling involving genealogy work has proved successful in the past with high-profile cases such as that of the Golden State Killer.

The renewed interest in JonBenét's case comes after Netflix released their three-part docuseries Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey. JonBenét was found dead at age 6 in 1996 in the basement of her house hours after she had been reported missing. Her official cause of death was asphyxia by strangulation associated with craniocerebral trauma, and her death was ruled a homicide.

Over the years, the Boulder police looked into many suspects and theories, including her brother, Burke Ramsey, and JonBenét's parents, Patsy and John. A grand jury voted to indict the pair in 1999, but the indictment was never signed by the Boulder district attorney due to a lack of evidence. The couple were exonerated in 2008 and continued to advocate for JonBenét's murderer to be found. (Patsy died of ovarian cancer in 2006.)

"What we are advocating for — and have been doing so for the last year or so, aggressively, is we know there's five or six items that were taken from the crime scene. They were sent into a lab for DNA sampling and were not sampled," John told the camera in the three-part doc. "We want those items sampled. We want what has been sampled to be retested. Then use the public genealogy database to look for — not only a match — but a similar relative. That's been used very successfully in the last few years by police departments to find the killer of very old cold cases."

A spokesperson for the Boulder PD told Us Weekly in a November statement that they are "aggressively investigating the case and pursuing all avenues." Meanwhile, a source connected to the authorities shared with Us that there have been "new sets of eyes" on the case in an attempt to find "anything that could have been overlooked."

"No one is off the table. This case is still wide open," the insider noted. "We are after the truth, whatever that is. We are going to leave no stone unturned. The kindest thing we can do for the Ramseys is to solve this."

A West Bloomfield man has been sentenced on a sexual assault case that dates back more than 25 years. 

Kurt Alan Rillema, 52, pleaded no contest in December to criminal sexual conduct in the third and fourth degree regarding an assault that happened in September 1999, the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office reported in a press release Thursday. 

He was sentenced Wednesday to 10 to 15 years in prison. 

"The Oakland County Prosecutor's Office only consented to the plea agreement after consulting the victim and obtaining her approval," the press release said. 

Genetic genealogy testing of DNA evidence connected Rillema to the case, in which a woman, then 22 years old, was sexually assaulted at Twin Lakes Golf Club in Oakland Township. Investigators did obtain DNA at the time, but didn't have a suspect. 

Investigators eventually made the connection through DNA evidence collected on a July 2000 case involving another woman, then 19, who was attacked at a golf course at Penn State University. Investigators in both states sought the help of DNA technology company Parabon NanoLabs, which can use genetic genealogy and other research methods to search for potential relatives in public databases and build out family trees.  

Through that research, the potential suspects were narrowed to three individuals. 

The next break in the investigation happened after Michigan police obtained a DNA sample of Rillema through a Styrofoam coffee cup he had used. 

The Oakland County Sheriff's Office Special Investigations Unit worked with police from Penn State and State College, Pennsylvania, on the case. 

"Rillema will serve serious prison time for his crime," Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said in the announcement. "I know reliving this trauma after so many years wasn't easy for the victim. Her strength sustained this case, and I applaud the relentless work by law enforcement that allowed us to deliver a just ending for her.

Genealogy Bank is a subscription-based records database that has digitized, indexed and archived billions of family history records found in newspapers, census records, government documents and other historical records in all 50 states. Individuals interested in their family history can conveniently search and discover census records, obituaries, birth, marriage, death notices and much more. Learn how this database could be an indispensable part of your genealogy tool kit. Thursday, February 13, 2025.  On Zoom and in person at Cooper Memorial Library.  This Hybrid program is free and open to the general public. Meet in room 108 at 4:00 pm for refreshments and log into Zoom at 4:30. Presentation starts at 5 pm, and Q&A will directly follow the program.  Cooper Memorial Library is located at 2525 Oakley Seaver Dr., Clermont.  Registration for Zoom is required : https://tinyurl.com/GenealogyBank13Feb430pm

Speaker: Melony Young is a seasoned Customer Support Director and Corporate Trainer and has played a crucial role in developing and training teams at companies like American Express, The American Red Cross, Wayfair, and currently, GenealogyBank.com, and the entire consumer division of NewsBank, Inc. Melony has also been known to “dabble” in acting and voiceover work.

Melony developed a love and respect for genealogy work through her grandmother Arlene’s lifelong passion for family history and research and continues this legacy through an ongoing project with her children and grandson to capture and document life events and memories. Family history research and DNA testing even helped her connect with her half-brother. 

If you're wanting to learn more about genealogy, you're in luck as Richland (Washington) Public Library has a new database for folks to use.

Heritage Hub, the online genealogy resource, can be used to discover obituaries, funeral home notices, and other articles spanning more than 300 years.

Not only that, but the database can pull content from all 50 U.S. states and territories.

Whether you're interested in your ancestry or doing a school project, Heritage Hub is available for free.

"A lot of people like trying to figure out maybe like, family history, or maybe things that happened in the past, and so they're just trying to put information together. Sometimes people are just curious about family history. I remember in school I had to do a family tree, and so that would've been a nice resource to have for those types of projects," said Michael Scarfo, User Experience Supervisor for Richland Public Library.

You can use it at the library or at home, but you'll need your Richland Public Library card number if you're accessing it from home.

To reach the database, click here, then scroll down until you see the Genealogy category, and then click on Heritage Hub.

From there, you will be prompted to enter your Richland Public Library card number.

After that, you will then be free to use the database by typing in the first and last name of a person, death year if you have that, and any other keywords that could help you find who you're looking for.

Friends of Iowa PBS, in collaboration with the Iowa Genealogical Society, will offer a winter workshop series aimed at beginner and intermediate genealogy enthusiasts. 

The "Genealogy for All: Essential Tools, Records and DNA Insights" program will consist of four virtual sessions designed to help participants explore public records and gain insights into their ancestral heritage.

The workshop series, which will take place via Zoom, will cover various aspects of genealogical research, including organizing research, military and immigration records, naturalization processes and DNA analysis. The sessions will also focus on two key resources for family history research: FamilySearch and Ancestry.

Each two-hour session will feature a combination of lecture, discussion, and Q&A time, along with handouts for participants to use. The sessions will be recorded, allowing registrants to review the material at their convenience. However, due to the interactive nature of the workshop, participants are encouraged to attend live.

"We’re thrilled to collaborate once again with the Iowa Genealogical Society, providing individuals with valuable tools and insights to delve into their family history," said Darla Hassebroek, donor engagement manager at Friends of Iowa PBS. "This workshop offers an incredible chance for participants to connect with their heritage and discover the fascinating stories that make up their family’s legacy."

Registration for the full series costs $100, which includes live access to all four sessions, recordings, and supplemental materials. Tickets are available for purchase at here. You do not need to be an Iowa resident to participate.