REMOVE METADATA FROM IMAGES: UBUNTU with exiftool utility

Just few commands in Ubuntu to check the meta data and thereafter remove the same.I am using a utility exiftool which does not come inbuilt to most of the Linux systems,but we need to install them.

INSTALL COMMAND

sudo apt-get install libimage-exiftool-perl

USAGE COMMAND

exiftool -all= IMG_20200504_215424.jpg

(The above command creates a separate copy of the original file and the new file which is created with removed metadata)

or

exiftool -overwrite_original -all= IMG_20200504_215424.jpg 

(The above command overwrites the original file with the new file created with removed metadata)

Showing you output of one file prior to removal of meta data and thereafter removing the meta data

ORIGINAL FILE

kabali@Kabali:~/Desktop/ddd$ jhead IMG_20200504_215424.jpg
File name    : IMG_20200504_215424.jpg
File size    : 3588382 bytes
File date    : 2021:01:31 14:10:13
Camera make  : Xiaomi
Camera model : Mi A2
Date/Time    : 2020:05:04 21:54:24
Resolution   : 4000 x 3000
Orientation  : rotate 90
Flash used   : No
Focal length :  4.1mm  (35mm equivalent: 4mm)
Exposure time: 0.050 s  (1/20)
Aperture     : f/1.8
ISO equiv.   : 1000
Whitebalance : Auto
Metering Mode: center weight
GPS Latitude : ? ?
GPS Longitude: ? ?
JPEG Quality : 98

REMOVED METADATA FILE

kabali@Kabali:~/Desktop/ddd$ jhead IMG_20200504_215424.jpg

File name    : IMG_20200504_215424.jpg
File size    : 3556853 bytes
File date    : 2021:01:31 14:30:08
Resolution   : 4000 x 3000
JPEG Quality : 98

 

Removing METADATA from JPEG & IMAGE FILES

1.    Invariably we all find various images from the net for our routine use,download them,modify them and use them in our sites and posts....but are we authorised to do so?...coz each jpeg and image file by a digital camera holds info in form of metadata and in few cases...the images may be copy right which may inadvertently rule against the user....so what to do to ensure safe...simple ...remove metadata from the image....but how?...here comes jhead for your help.Read and follow the instructions below :

- Press Start & Run or Windows key + R to open Run menu, type cmd.exe and press OK

- Type cd\     [To reach root directory]

- Type C:\md removemetadata     [To create a new directory by the name removemetadata]

- Type C:\cd removemetadata      [To reach the directory and Copy all pictures whose metadata is to be removed to this directory ]

- Download the program file jhead.exe to C:\removemetadata

- Type cd removemetadata

- To remove all metadata of all JPEG files in "this dir, type: jhead -purejpg * and press enter

- Done

2.    So doing this small,boring but important function will avoid case study like the mumbai case mentioned at an earlier post.

3.    Another easy way is to simply take a screen shot of the image and paste it in paint brush.But this would be cumbersome to do when the images are in bulk quantity.To download JHEAD...click here