mirror of
https://github.com/privacyguides/privacyguides.org.git
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147 lines
7.7 KiB
Markdown
147 lines
7.7 KiB
Markdown
---
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meta_title: "Remove PII with Metadata Scrubbers and Data Redaction Tools - Privacy Guides"
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title: "Data and Metadata Redaction"
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icon: material/tag-remove
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description: Use these tools to remove metadata like GPS location and other identifying information from photos and files you share.
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cover: data-redaction.png
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---
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When sharing files, be sure to remove associated metadata. Image files commonly include [Exif](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exif) data. Photos sometimes even include GPS coordinates in the file metadata.
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## Desktop
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### MAT2
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!!! recommendation
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{ align=right }
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**MAT2** is free software, which allows the metadata to be removed from image, audio, torrent, and document file types. It provides both a command line tool and a graphical user interface via an [extension for Nautilus](https://0xacab.org/jvoisin/mat2/-/tree/master/nautilus), the default file manager of [GNOME](https://www.gnome.org), and [Dolphin](https://0xacab.org/jvoisin/mat2/-/tree/master/dolphin), the default file manager of [KDE](https://kde.org).
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On Linux, a third-party graphical tool [Metadata Cleaner](https://gitlab.com/rmnvgr/metadata-cleaner) powered by MAT2 exists and is [available on Flathub](https://flathub.org/apps/details/fr.romainvigier.MetadataCleaner).
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[:octicons-repo-16: Repository](https://0xacab.org/jvoisin/mat2){ .md-button .md-button--primary }
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[:octicons-info-16:](https://0xacab.org/jvoisin/mat2/-/blob/master/README.md){ .card-link title=Documentation}
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[:octicons-code-16:](https://0xacab.org/jvoisin/mat2){ .card-link title="Source Code" }
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??? downloads
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- [:simple-windows11: Windows](https://pypi.org/project/mat2)
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- [:simple-apple: macOS](https://0xacab.org/jvoisin/mat2#requirements-setup-on-macos-os-x-using-homebrew)
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- [:simple-linux: Linux](https://pypi.org/project/mat2)
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- [:octicons-globe-16: Web](https://0xacab.org/jvoisin/mat2#web-interface)
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## Mobile
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### ExifEraser (Android)
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!!! recommendation
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{ align=right }
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**ExifEraser** is a modern, permissionless image metadata erasing application for Android.
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It currently supports JPEG, PNG and WebP files.
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[:octicons-repo-16: Repository](https://github.com/Tommy-Geenexus/exif-eraser){ .md-button .md-button--primary }
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[:octicons-info-16:](https://github.com/Tommy-Geenexus/exif-eraser#readme){ .card-link title=Documentation}
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[:octicons-code-16:](https://github.com/Tommy-Geenexus/exif-eraser){ .card-link title="Source Code" }
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??? downloads
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- [:simple-googleplay: Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.none.tom.exiferaser)
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- [:octicons-moon-16: Accrescent](https://accrescent.app/app/com.none.tom.exiferaser)
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- [:simple-github: GitHub](https://github.com/Tommy-Geenexus/exif-eraser/releases)
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The metadata that is erased depends on the image's file type:
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* **JPEG**: ICC Profile, Exif, Photoshop Image Resources and XMP/ExtendedXMP metadata will be erased if it exists.
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* **PNG**: ICC Profile, Exif and XMP metadata will be erased if it exists.
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* **WebP**: ICC Profile, Exif and XMP metadata will be erased if it exists.
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After processing the images, ExifEraser provides you with a full report about what exactly was removed from each image.
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The app offers multiple ways to erase metadata from images. Namely:
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* You can share an image from another application with ExifEraser.
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* Through the app itself, you can select a single image, multiple images at once, or even an entire directory.
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* It features a "Camera" option, which uses your operating system's camera app to take a photo, and then it removes the metadata from it.
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* It allows you to drag photos from another app into ExifEraser when they are both open in split-screen mode.
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* Lastly, it allows you to paste an image from your clipboard.
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### Metapho (iOS)
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!!! recommendation
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{ align=right }
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**Metapho** is a simple and clean viewer for photo metadata such as date, file name, size, camera model, shutter speed, and location.
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[:octicons-home-16: Homepage](https://zininworks.com/metapho){ .md-button .md-button--primary }
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[:octicons-eye-16:](https://zininworks.com/privacy/){ .card-link title="Privacy Policy" }
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??? downloads
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- [:simple-appstore: App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/metapho/id914457352)
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### PrivacyBlur
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!!! recommendation
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{ align=right }
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**PrivacyBlur** is a free app which can blur sensitive portions of pictures before sharing them online.
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[:octicons-home-16: Homepage](https://privacyblur.app/){ .md-button .md-button--primary }
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[:octicons-eye-16:](https://privacyblur.app/privacy.html){ .card-link title="Privacy Policy" }
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[:octicons-info-16:](https://github.com/MATHEMA-GmbH/privacyblur#readme){ .card-link title=Documentation}
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[:octicons-code-16:](https://github.com/MATHEMA-GmbH/privacyblur){ .card-link title="Source Code" }
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??? downloads
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- [:simple-googleplay: Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.mathema.privacyblur)
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- [:simple-appstore: App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/privacyblur/id1536274106)
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!!! warning
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You should **never** use blur to redact [text in images](https://bishopfox.com/blog/unredacter-tool-never-pixelation). If you want to redact text in an image, draw a box over the text. For this, we suggest apps like [Pocket Paint](https://github.com/Catrobat/Paintroid).
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## Command-line
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### ExifTool
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!!! recommendation
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{ align=right }
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**ExifTool** is the original perl library and command-line application for reading, writing, and editing meta information (Exif, IPTC, XMP, and more) in a wide variety of file formats (JPEG, TIFF, PNG, PDF, RAW, and more).
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It's often a component of other Exif removal applications and is in most Linux distribution repositories.
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[:octicons-home-16: Homepage](https://exiftool.org){ .md-button .md-button--primary }
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[:octicons-info-16:](https://exiftool.org/faq.html){ .card-link title=Documentation}
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[:octicons-code-16:](https://github.com/exiftool/exiftool){ .card-link title="Source Code" }
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[:octicons-heart-16:](https://exiftool.org/#donate){ .card-link title=Contribute }
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??? downloads
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- [:simple-windows11: Windows](https://exiftool.org)
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- [:simple-apple: macOS](https://exiftool.org)
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- [:simple-linux: Linux](https://exiftool.org)
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!!! example "Deleting data from a directory of files"
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```bash
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exiftool -all= *.file_extension
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```
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## Criteria
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**Please note we are not affiliated with any of the projects we recommend.** In addition to [our standard criteria](about/criteria.md), we have developed a clear set of requirements to allow us to provide objective recommendations. We suggest you familiarize yourself with this list before choosing to use a project, and conduct your own research to ensure it's the right choice for you.
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!!! example "This section is new"
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We are working on establishing defined criteria for every section of our site, and this may be subject to change. If you have any questions about our criteria, please [ask on our forum](https://discuss.privacyguides.net/latest) and don't assume we didn't consider something when making our recommendations if it is not listed here. There are many factors considered and discussed when we recommend a project, and documenting every single one is a work-in-progress.
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- Apps developed for open-source operating systems must be open-source.
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- Apps must be free and should not include ads or other limitations.
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