Metadata within a file can tell a lot about you. Cameras record data about when and where a picture was taken and which camera was used. Office applications automatically add author and company information to documents and spreadsheets. This is sensitive information and you may not want to disclose it.
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We have an article on why and how to remove metadata with exiftool that you should check out. If exiftool seems hard to use, or it might be time consuming, you can give ExifCleaner a try ( Linux and macOS ).
If the tool/app above is not enough, Linux users can also give Metadata Cleaner a spin.
Metadata cleaner is a Python GTK application that uses mat2 under the hood and allows you to view and clean metadata in files.
It featuers a clean, simple and intuitive UI, allowing you to open individual files ( or folders ) to audit and clean.
Metadata CLeaner should be available to all Linux users as you can:
- build it from source
- available as a flatpak
- Arch ( and derivates ) users can ( also ) find Metadata Cleaner in the AUR
Please note that metadata is not the only way of marking a file. If the file itself discloses personal information or has been watermarked, no metadata cleaner will protect you.