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"Deep" Metadata

C

chrstrbrts

Senior member
Hello,

I'm not sure where to put this question, but it seems security oriented. So, I'll post here.

Is there such a thing as “deep” metadata?

I know that you can access “superficial” metadata by clicking on the properties option on drop down menus, and there are programs that will let you edit metadata.

But, is it possible for a computer to leave a fingerprint on every file that passes through it?

For example, lets say I compose a word document on my laptop, print it into pdf, upload it online onto dropbox or mega or some similar site, then you download it and save to your usb.

Is it possible for someone to take that file and find a log of everywhere the file has been?

That is, is it possible to construct a history that the file was first a word doc composed on computer 123abc, then converted to PDF on computer 123abc, then uploaded to site xyz, then downloaded on computer fgh345, and finally copied to USB iop456?

Do computers leave unique identifiers on files that pass through them?

Thanks.
 
Last edited:
I don't think there is a history intentionally stored in a document but there can be artifacts, sometimes in the document or file, and almost always peripherally on the devices where it has been.
 
MrColin said:
I don't think there is a history intentionally stored in a document but there can be artifacts, sometimes in the document or file, and almost always peripherally on the devices where it has been.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply. That sounds very interesting.

Can you explain further or give an example, please?
 
chrstrbrts said:
Is it possible for someone to take that file and find a log of everywhere the file has been?

That is, is it possible to construct a history that the file was first a word doc composed on computer 123abc, then converted to PDF on computer 123abc, then uploaded to site xyz, then downloaded on computer fgh345, and finally copied to USB iop456?

Do computers leave unique identifiers on files that pass through them?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

MS Word .doc files used to leave system GUIDs in the metadata of the file, so yes, some file formats have that capability.
 
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