this post was submitted on 16 Mar 2024
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I always remove this data from my screenshots before sharing, but is there any way to prevent this from happening in the first place? I've searched and searched, but all I can find is information about how to remove the data after the fact, which I already know how to do, but it would sure be nice if it never got added in the first place. Thanks.

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[–] Atemu@lemmy.ml 23 points 8 months ago (17 children)

Is this all the metadata it adds?

Because the information you've shown here is not at all sensitive. It's just the timestamp, Android version and time zone.

[–] Churbleyimyam@lemm.ee 3 points 8 months ago

No, but when combined with other data it makes identifying someone more accurate. And what is the need for it anyway? OP is reasonable to not want it IMO.

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[–] BakedCatboy@lemmy.ml 11 points 8 months ago (2 children)

That's so weird, exif on a screenshot? Usually my quick fix to remove exif from something when I'm on the go is to take a screenshot of it. I'm on lineage 21 and according to exiftool there's no exif data on my screenshots.

[–] LinkOpensChest_wav@midwest.social 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Do you have a Samsung phone? I'm starting to think it might be yet another Samsung thing.

[–] BakedCatboy@lemmy.ml 5 points 8 months ago

Google Pixel 5, if you're using a stock rom then that sounds likely.

[–] Redjard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 8 months ago (1 children)

On lineageOS 20 it records the exact android build string as the Software for me, so "Android lineage_pdx215-userdebug 13 TQ3A.230901.001 b30079afa2". Which is probably enough to uniquely identify me, and you if you have a less common phone or are on an older or uncommon version.

Needless to say I am pissed.

[–] BakedCatboy@lemmy.ml 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

I actually just realized lineage 21 does this too - I didn't notice because cropping a screenshot with Google photos seems to remove all the fields (I also have the build string and timezone offset). Which is weird because cropping an actual photo the same way - as you would expect - preserves all the notable fields like timestamps, phone model / lens info, and the same "Software" field which for my photos is just "HDR+ 1.0.commithashlookingstring"

[–] umami_wasbi@lemmy.ml 8 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Wtf. What phone are you using?

[–] HumanPerson@sh.itjust.works 3 points 8 months ago

Basically all new phones have that.

[–] Pantherina@feddit.de 7 points 8 months ago (1 children)

GrapheneOS Camera is very nice. May only work on Pixels, but on stock android (which is an insane tracking platform you should ditch) too.

Https://github.com/grapheneos/apps/releases/latest

Download their appstore, there you get the camera app.

[–] LinkOpensChest_wav@midwest.social 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Thanks. I've been looking for a replacement app for the camera since the one I use was bought out.

[–] Pantherina@feddit.de 2 points 7 months ago

This was about screenshots, sorry. No idea, dont think you can change that without a different android OS

[–] airikr@lemmy.ml 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Same here, but no "sensitive" information like what Android version I use or anything like that. It depends on what phone you use, I guess. I use a Pixel 6a with GrapheneOS.

Mine's a Samsung S21FE so I don't think I can use that OS

[–] MonkderZweite@feddit.ch 5 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

ObscuraCam of Guardian Project doesn't save metadata. OpenCamera is highly configurable.

edit: ah, screenshots. I think in LineageOS it's part of the launcher (app-switch doesn't work with default launcher disabled) or backed into the system. If it's the second and you have a vendor OS, guess you can only flash a custom ROM to fix it.

[–] LinkOpensChest_wav@midwest.social 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, unfortunately I don't believe I can flash a custom rom onto a Samsung. Ugh.

Thanks for responding!

[–] Twitches@lemm.ee 3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

You can, but, it's a select few models and most are older.

Edit: personally I don't flash my phone because I'm poor and can't risk bricking it

I’m poor and can’t risk bricking it

Truth, I feel this too. My phone was a birthday present from my husband too, so I'd feel really bad if I bricked it.

[–] MonkderZweite@feddit.ch 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Honestly, hard bricking (damaging the bootloader beyond repair) is really hard and soft bricking is solved by getting to download mode and flashing the correct version. While starting with custom roms, having no idea what i do, i flashed my Galaxy Xcover 1 with the OS for a sub-version of the device and it almost worked.

[–] Twitches@lemm.ee 3 points 7 months ago

That's good to know, thank you.

[–] survivalmachine@beehaw.org 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

What phone, what camera app, what Android version (and be specific if the manufacturer or service provider added their own customizations, as is common with Samsung and most major service providers).

[–] LinkOpensChest_wav@midwest.social 4 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Android 14, and it's Samsung so I know they add their own restrictions, etc., but I'm not sure what they all are. Nothing good lol

I'm using Simple Camera, which I do plan to replace, but it doesn't save exif data to the photos I take. It happens when I use the volume + power button combo to take screenshots.

When I open any photo taken with my camera, I see no exif data at all.

[–] survivalmachine@beehaw.org 4 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Oh, yuck. Yeah, I have a Samsung phone, too, and can't figure out how to strip exif data from screenshots. You might be stuck with a third-party exif-stripper app.

Yeah that's what I've been using. I was hoping there'd be a way to just not include exif data in the first place.

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[–] jjlinux@lemmy.ml 2 points 7 months ago

I don't know of a screen shot app that works without addind metadata to screen shots. What I use is "Metadata Remover" from Fdroid: https://apt.izzysoft.de/fdroid/index/apk/rocks.poopjournal.metadataremover

You take a screen shot, open the screen shot image from Metadata Remover, click on "Remove metadata", and the moment it's done, it'll take you to share automatically.

I hope this helps you.

[–] bbbhltz@beehaw.org 2 points 8 months ago (11 children)

What app are you using to see the exif data? Perhaps my screenshot has this info as well but the different apps I use to view exif data do not show it.

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