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Category Metadata Tools

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Sanitization Rules

Obfuscate Filenames Randomize (e.g., a7f3b9.jpg)

Reset Timestamps Set 'Modified' to current time

Preserve Backup Keep original in zip (Safe Mode)

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About

In digital forensics, every file tells a story beyond its visible content. Metadata - data about data - is systematically embedded into image files (JPEG, PNG, TIFF) by recording devices. This hidden layer, known as EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format), acts as a digital fingerprint. It can persist through editing, cropping, and messaging, carrying critical vectors for Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) analysis.

The risk profile of raw metadata is significant. A single shared photo can leak the GPSLatitude and GPSLongitude of a private residence, the BodySerialNumber of the camera (linking anonymous leaks to a specific user), and precise DateTimeOriginal timestamps that establish behavioral patterns. For legal professionals, journalists, and privacy advocates, failure to sanitize this data constitutes a critical operational security (OPSEC) breach.

This application utilizes a browser-based binary parser to surgically excise these metadata segments. Unlike raster editors that re-compress images (causing generation loss), this tool performs bit-stream manipulation. It identifies the hexadecimal markers (e.g., 0xFFE1 for APP1) and removes the payload bytes while preserving the quantization tables and entropy coding. The result is a mathematically identical image stream with a sanitized header structure.

Formulas

The efficiency of metadata stripping is calculated by analyzing the storage overhead removed from the file structure. Let S_total be the original file size and H be the set of all header segments (APPn, COM).

PrivacyGain = n∑i=1 size(h_i) where h_i ∈ H ∧ is_metadata(h_i)

In standard JPEG topology, the image stream I starts at the SOS (Start of Scan) marker. The tool effectively creates a new container:

File_new = SOI + APP0_(JFIF) + DQT + DHT + SOS + EOI

Note that APP1 (Exif) and APP13 (IPTC) are purposefully omitted from the summation sequence.

Reference Data

Hex Marker	Tag Name	Category	Threat Level	Forensic Implication
0x8825	GPSInfo	Location	CRITICAL	Contains Lat/Long/Alt. Pinpoints location to <5m accuracy.
0xA431	BodySerialNumber	Device	CRITICAL	Unique hardware ID. Links multiple photos to one owner.
0x9003	DateTimeOriginal	Temporal	HIGH	Exact second of capture. Used for timeline reconstruction.
0x9286	UserComment	Content	HIGH	May contain hidden text notes or editor comments.
0xA420	ImageUniqueID	Tracking	HIGH	Hex string often used by platforms to track file propagation.
0xA435	LensSerialNumber	Device	Medium	Unique ID of the lens. Distinguishes gear sets.
0x013B	Artist	Identity	Medium	Often auto-filled with camera owner's name.
0x0131	Software	Editing	Low	Reveals post-processing workflow (e.g., Photoshop CS6).
0xA404	DigitalZoomRatio	Technical	Low	Indicates cropping/zooming behavior.
0x829A	ExposureTime	Technical	None	1500 sec. Harmless technical data.
0x9209	Flash	Technical	None	Firing status. Harmless.
0xA300	FileSource	System	None	Value 3 indicates DSC (Digital Still Camera).

Frequently Asked Questions

No. This is a critical distinction. Most online tools decode the image to pixels and then save it again, which degrades quality (generation loss). This tool uses "Byte-Slicing". It reads the raw binary code of the file, identifies the specific blocks of code that contain text/metadata, and cuts them out. The actual image data (the compressed pixel blocks) is copied byte-for-byte. The output is visually 100% identical to the input.

This is often a permissions issue. On iOS and Android, browsers sandbox file access. We have optimized the "Upload Overlay" to use standard HTML5 input methods that work across 99% of devices. If you experience issues, try selecting "Photo Library" rather than "Files" when prompted, as some OS versions restrict raw file access.

Yes. The tool includes a "Bulk Processing" engine. It processes files asynchronously to prevent the browser from freezing. We also integrated a client-side ZIP generator. Instead of downloading 100 individual files, the tool bundles them into a single archive directly in your browser memory, offering a streamlined workflow.

By default, yes. Color profiles (ICC Profiles) are stored in the APP2 marker. While usually harmless, custom ICC profiles can sometimes contain "Description" tags with identifying info. For maximum privacy, we strip APP2. For most web use (sRGB), this has no visible effect. If you require strict color management for print, be aware that the profile will reset to standard sRGB.

The score is a heuristic calculation. We assign weight to specific tags: GPS coordinates are weighted heavily (High Risk), serial numbers and timestamps are Medium Risk, and technical settings (exposure, f-stop) are Low Risk. A score of 100% means the file definitely contains personally identifiable information (PII) that could lead to OSINT tracking.