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+--- Thread: Tutorial Erase Metadata from Files/Documents/Pictures (/Thread-Tutorial-Erase-Metadata-from-Files-Documents-Pictures)
Erase Metadata from Files/Documents/Pictures - Troubilshow - 08-26-2022
Today I'm going to show you how to remove metadata on a lot of document types.
But what is metadata? And why it’s important to remove it?
Metadata can be helpful for people who want to extract information from large data stores. However, it can also be misused to know about a person's location or their identity without their knowledge or consent. Therefore, removing metadata is essential to ensuring your privacy and anonymity online.
You can go directly to the file format of your choice or read everything. Let's go !
For pictures and videos :
On Windows, macOS, and Linux I would recommend :
EXIFCLEANER:
that allows viewing and/or removing those properties.
Just install it from https://exifcleaner.com/ run and drag and drop the files into the GUI. allows viewing and/or removing those properties.
EXIFTOOL:
It is actually simple, just install exiftool and run:
To display metadata:
exiftool filename.jpg
To remove all metadata:
exiftool -All= filename.jpg
PDF files:
For PDF I would recommend
PDFPARANOIA
(LINUX/WINDOWS/MACOS/QUBESOS):
Get it here : https://github.com/kanzure/pdfparanoia
which will remove metadata and watermarks on any PDF.
You can do it also with exifcleaner and exiftool . But for exiftool there is how to proceed
It is actually simple, just install exiftool and run:
To display metadata:
exiftool filename.pdf
To remove all metadata:
exiftool -All= filename.pdf
Microsoft Office Documents:
First, here is a tutorial to remove metadata from Office documents: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/remove-hidden-data-and-personal-information-by-inspecting-documents-presentations-or-workbooks-356b7b5d-77af-44fe-a07f-9aa4d085966f
Make sure however that you do use the latest version of Office with the latest security updates.
Once again you can do it also with exifcleaner and exiftool . But for exiftool there is how to proceed
EXIFTOOL:
It is actually simple, just install exiftool and run:
To display metadata: exiftool filename.docx
To remove all metadata: exiftool -All= filename.docx
And for finish an all in one tool
Another option good tool to remove metadata from various documents is the open-source mat2
Get it here : https://0xacab.org/jvoisin/mat2
which you can use on Linux quite easily. I never managed to make it work properly within Windows due to various dependencies issues despite the provided instructions. It is however very straightforward to install and use on Linux.
So, if you want to use it on windows, I would suggest creating a small Debian or other Linux os VM within Virtualbox which you can then use from your analyze various files from a convenient web interface.
Hoping to have been clear!
RE: Erase Metadata from Files/Documents/Pictures - Kaz - 08-26-2022
Is there any way of modifying the metadata?
RE: Erase Metadata from Files/Documents/Pictures - Troubilshow - 08-26-2022
(08-26-2022, 02:29 PM)Kaz Wrote: Is there any way of modifying the metadata?
U can do it with exiftool
Here is a video about that :
https://youtu.be/6jt_Qia8E64
RE: Erase Metadata from Files/Documents/Pictures - Kaz - 08-26-2022
(08-26-2022, 03:13 PM)Troubilshow Wrote:(08-26-2022, 02:29 PM)Kaz Wrote: Is there any way of modifying the metadata?
U can do it with exiftool
Here is a video about that :
https://youtu.be/6jt_Qia8E64
Thanks sir!
RE: Erase Metadata from Files/Documents/Pictures - Troubilshow - 08-26-2022
(08-26-2022, 03:17 PM)Kaz Wrote:(08-26-2022, 03:13 PM)Troubilshow Wrote:(08-26-2022, 02:29 PM)Kaz Wrote: Is there any way of modifying the metadata?
U can do it with exiftool
Here is a video about that :
https://youtu.be/6jt_Qia8E64
Thanks sir!
No problem at all !
RE: Erase Metadata from Files/Documents/Pictures - Terraria - 09-06-2022
One trick I would add is to just take a screenshot of your desired pics/photos.
Obviously before doing so you should check whether your system screenshot tool leaks any info or not (use the methods OP mention).
RE: Erase Metadata from Files/Documents/Pictures - Troubilshow - 09-06-2022
(09-06-2022, 06:16 AM)Terraria Wrote: One trick I would add is to just take a screenshot of your desired pics/photos.
Obviously before doing so you should check whether your system screenshot tool leaks any info or not (use the methods OP mention).
Yes it can be a good alternative but it depends on the situation, for example for a pdf that you have to send in this format it is not useful to make a screenshot
RE: Erase Metadata from Files/Documents/Pictures - xteddtx - 10-19-2022
thanks for the great writeups!