[[!meta title="Removing metadata using mat2from files"]]

[[!meta title="Removing metadata from files"]]

[[!toc levels=1]]

What is metadata?

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.

However, metadata can also be used to deanonymize users and expose private information.

Examples of metadata include:

- In images:

The location where a photo was taken

The date and time a photo was taken

The model and serial number of the camera used to take a photo

- In other documents:

The author of the document

Changes to the document

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/).

Removing metadata using *Metadata Cleaner*

Tails includes
<a href="https://0xacab.org/jvoisin/mat2"><span class="application">mat2</span></a>
[*Metadata Cleaner*](https://metadatacleaner.romainvigier.fr/) so you can remove metadata from files before you publish or share them.

Tails includes [*Metadata Cleaner*](https://metadatacleaner.romainvigier.fr/) so you can remove metadata from files before you publish or share them.

<div class="cautiontip">

<div class="tip">

<p>If, instead of cleaning your own files, you want to sanitize untrusted
documents shared with you by others, you can install
[[<i>Dangerzone</i>|persistent_storage/additional_software/dangerzone]] as
additional software.</p>

</div>

<span class="application">mat2</span>*Metadata Cleaner* works on many file formats, including:

*Metadata Cleaner* works on many file formats, including: