GUARD YOUR DIGITAL FOOTPRINT

Why You Should Remove Metadata Before Sharing Photos?

- Sandesh Bhosle

When you snap a photo with your smartphone or camera, there’s more being stored than just the image. Alongside your picture, details like location, phone model, and even IP address are captured and stored as Metadata, specifically EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) data. These details can reveal private information that you may not want to share publicly. Whether you’re posting a photo on social media or sending it to someone, it’s crucial to remove this hidden data to safeguard your privacy. Let’s see how Metadata works, the risks it poses, and how to easily remove it from your photos before sharing them.

WHAT IS METADATA (EXIF), AND WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?

Metadata, or EXIF data, is like a digital footprint of your photo. When you take a picture with your phone or camera, details such as the date, time, location, and device model are automatically attached to the image. If you’ve edited the photo, Metadata can also store information about the editing software or app you used.

While this data can help organise photos, it poses significant risks. If a photo with Metadata is shared online, ill-intentioned individuals like hackers or stalkers could use it to extract private information. For instance, GPS data embedded in a photo can pinpoint the exact location where it was taken. This can lead to unwanted privacy invasions or even personal harm in the wrong hands. To prevent such risks, removing Metadata before sharing images publicly is essential.

HOW TO REMOVE METADATA (EXIF) FROM PHOTOS?