How safe are your photos?
EXIF metadata privacy scanner
Why is this dangerous?
Location Tracking
GPS data in photos reveals where you live and work
Route Reconstruction
Multiple photos with timestamps expose your daily movements
Timestamp Exposure
Exact date and time reveal your daily routine and schedule
Device & Software ID
Camera make and model, lens serial number, and editing software version can uniquely identify the photographer across multiple photos posted on different platforms — even anonymously
Copyright & Owner Info
Author name, copyright notices, and creator data embedded in photos can directly reveal your real identity — even when you post photos under a pseudonym or anonymous account
How does it work?
Select your photos (up to 20 at once) and the browser instantly parses all EXIF metadata using the open-source ExifReader library
PrivaScan automatically analyzes and color-codes risk levels for GPS location data, device identification, timestamps, and copyright information
Safely removes selected metadata and downloads clean photos
How your data is processed
PrivaScan uses the open-source ExifReader JavaScript library to perform all metadata analysis and removal entirely within your browser's memory. Files are never sent to any server at any point in the process. All data is completely cleared from browser memory when you close the tab. The only external communication is the optional GPS-to-address conversion: when you click to see a readable address, only the GPS coordinate numbers are sent to the OpenStreetMap Nominatim API — the photo file itself is never transmitted.
What is PrivaScan?
PrivaScan is a free, browser-based photo privacy scanner that detects and removes hidden EXIF metadata from your photos. Every digital photo contains invisible embedded data — GPS coordinates accurate to within meters, device serial numbers, precise capture timestamps, and sometimes your real name — that can be used to track and identify you. PrivaScan analyzes this metadata, displays exactly what is exposed (including an interactive map showing photo locations), assigns risk scores, and safely removes it before you share your photos online.
How to Use PrivaScan (3 Steps)
- 1
Upload Your Photos
Drag and drop or click to select up to 20 JPEG, PNG, or HEIC photos. All files are loaded directly into your browser's memory — nothing is uploaded to any server. Processing begins immediately.
- 2
Review Privacy Risks
PrivaScan analyzes each photo's EXIF metadata and displays a color-coded risk score. It detects and maps GPS location (with an interactive map preview), device make and model, serial numbers, precise timestamps, and copyright/author data.
- 3
Remove & Download
Choose which metadata to remove — 'Remove All' for maximum privacy or 'Location Only' to strip just GPS coordinates — then download your clean photos. The original files on your device are never modified.
Why Browser-Based Processing Is Safer
Unlike most online metadata removal tools that require you to upload your photos to remote servers — where files may be stored, analyzed, or exposed in a breach — PrivaScan processes everything locally in your browser using the open-source ExifReader JavaScript library. Your photos never leave your device. There is no server to hack, no employee who can access your images, and all data is automatically cleared from browser memory when you close the tab.