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[[!meta title="Removing metadata from files"]]
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What is metadata?
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Metadata is "data about data" or "information about information" that is embedded in computer files, usually automatically. Metadata is used to describe, identify, categorize, and sort files.
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However, metadata can also be used to deanonymize users and expose private information.
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Examples of metadata include:
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In image files:
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the location where a photo was taken
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the date and time a photo was taken
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the model and serial number of the camera used to take a photo
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In text document files:
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the author of the document
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changes to the document
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To learn more about how metadata can be used to identify and reveal personal information, see [Behind the Data: Investigating metadata](https://exposingtheinvisible.org/en/guides/behind-the-data-metadata-investigations/).
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<p>It is impossible to reliably find and remove all metadata in complex file
formats. For example, <i>Microsoft Office</i> documents can contain embedded images,
audio, and other files containing their own metadata that Tails cannot
remove.</p>
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<p>You should remove metadata on any files before you embed them into another
document.</p>
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<p>Also, you should save files in simpler formats whenever possible.
For example, instead of saving a text document as a .docx file,
you can save the document as a plain .txt file.</p>
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Removing metadata using *Metadata Cleaner*
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Tails includes [*Metadata Cleaner*](https://metadatacleaner.romainvigier.fr/) so you can remove metadata from files before you publish or share them.
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*Metadata Cleaner* works on many file formats, including:
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- Image files, such as .jpeg, .png, and .gif - *LibreOffice* files, such as .odt and .ods - *Microsoft Office* documents, such as .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx - Audio files, such as .mp3, .flac, and .ogg - Video files, such as .mp4 and .avi - Archive files, such as .zip and .tar
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