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update: Add warning about Windows native metadata removal #3094

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update: Add warning about Windows native metadata removal #3094

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2 changes: 1 addition & 1 deletion docs/data-redaction.md
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Expand Up @@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ cover: data-redaction.webp

- [:material-account-search: Public Exposure](basics/common-threats.md#limiting-public-information){ .pg-green }

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.
When sharing files, be sure to remove associated metadata. Most common file types (including documents, images, and videos) include metadata. Image files, for example, commonly include [Exif](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exif) data. Photos sometimes even include GPS coordinates in the file metadata. Windows has a built-in metadata remover, but it has a [very limited number](https://digitalconfidence.com/Remove-Properties-and-Personal-Information-a-Misleading-Feature.html) of supported file types and metadata types, necessitating a reliable third-party tool.
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@redoomed1 redoomed1 Sep 21, 2025

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The linked article by Digital Confidence about limitations in the metadata removal function of Windows's File Explorer also promotes the company's own software as a solution and links to their website's articles as "related white papers."

We prefer links to first-party documentation (in this case, documentation from Microsoft) if available, and encourage not linking to articles which promote a product created by the same company which hosts the article.

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@kuferu kuferu Sep 28, 2025

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I prefer to link to a documentation by Microsoft as well, but it does not exists. You got to explain to people who browse privacyguides.org why do they need a good 3rd-party metadata scrubber anyway, when Windows already have one built-in. The web is filled to the brim with articles, videos, blog posts, and discussions posts, containing bogus info about the built-in scrubber, saying it can remove all metadata from all kind of files. Just search for "remove properties and personal information". It's important to refute it. The article by Digital Confidence is not ideal, but it certainly better than nothing.


<div class="admonition warning" markdown>
<p class="admonition-title">Warning</p>
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