Exif Data in PhotosĮxchangeable image file format, or Exif data, is information that accompanies an image file and contains many data fields that can be populated or left blank. They collect it and add it next to your likes, comments, your network of ‘friends’ etc., to profile you. While social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram ( same company – Facebook ) strip out the metadata before it shows your photo to the world, they don’t just erase that metadata. Make sure the service you use strips out metadata. Luckily, most social media platforms eliminate this threat by stripping out metadata from your published files. That’s metadata.īesides what’s visible in the photo itself, metadata can reveal when and where the photo was taken, the device used to take the photo and other unique characteristics that can fingerprint you across the web.īy not removing metadata, a hacker or OSINT researcher can easily find out where you live, where you work, your preferences and habits, etc., just by extracting the Exif data hidden inside the photos you post online.

And both file types have one thing in common that can give away a lot more information than you might think. The two most common file types shared online today are photos and videos. Today, however, a picture is worth much more than that, and it can threaten your privacy and security.ĪLSO READ The Easiest Way to Remove EXIF MetadataĪLSO READ Metadata Cleaner: View and Clean Metadata ( Linux ) If you look up the origin of this expression, you’ll find that it emerged in the USA in the early 20th century.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

Exiftool online tool