While many social media platforms have largely eliminated this problem by stripping out metadata from files, there are still many images online with this data left entirely intact.Įxchangeable image file format data, or Exif data, is information that accompanies image files and offers many fields that can be populated or left blank.

If people don't know what kind of data can be retained in a particular file format, they won't know if they're putting themselves at risk by making a specific file public.

Metadata, or the data that describes files like images or videos, is useful during reconnaissance to investigators because it's often overlooked by otherwise careful targets.

Don't Miss: How to Hide Secret Data Inside an Image or Audio File in Seconds.

This data can include the device the photo was taken on, the geolocation of the image, and other unique characteristics that can fingerprint an image as haven been taken by the same person or device. Besides what's visible in the picture itself, metadata about when and where the photo was taken can also be recoverable. By tricking a target into sending a photo containing GPS coordinates and additional information, a hacker can learn where a mark lives or works simply by extracting the Exif data hidden inside the image file.įor hackers or OSINT researchers gathering digital evidence, photos can be a rich source of data. A thumbnail map and GPS data should be revealed with an option to select 'LOCATE' which opens Google maps to show location.įinding a tool you want to have all the features does mean lots of testing.Metadata contained in images and other files can give away a lot more information than the average user might think. Select 'TOOLS', then select 'SHOW INSPECTOR' followed by selecting 'GPS'.

Open the generic file view titled 'PREVIEW'. As a suggestion to try out, if you use MAC. I looked through some of my old notes about Exif data and jpg storing embedded GPS data. More importantly, focus on whether the 'tool' you wish to use has the capability to alter or delete data most tools do, so a read only version would be best but that tool could be limited in data it reveals. I wouldn't worry whether law enforcement have an accepted standard for reading Exif data from jpg files or not. Posted by: question is, is there a program that is accepted by law enforcement agencies as the standard for reading Exif data from jpg files? Preferably one that doesn't cost the earth )

File exif data viewer