In the course of work or play, everybody who creates, saves and shares documents also ends up creating metadata. And almost everybody is oblivious to this phenomenon or the problems it can create.
But what is metadata?
Metadata can be anything from comments, timestamps, tracked changes, revision marks or document properties. It can also consist of personal information such as the (document) author’s name, company details, headers, footers, watermarks, etc.
Metadata is usually not obviously visible to authors, viewers or reviewers. However, if revealed in the wrong place or at the wrong time or to the wrong people, it has the potential to embarrass and even seriously damage individuals and organisations.
This is why getting rid of metadata before a file is circulated or shared is often a good idea.
Still not convinced?
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