Notably, if Microsoft Office® is installed on the computer, the Remove Properties and Personal Information feature can also remove some properties from Microsoft® Word, Excel®, and PowerPoint® files.Įven when removing all possible properties that this feature supports from supported file formats, a wealth of potentially harmful hidden data & metadata are being left in the files.
#How to remove document inspector in excel software
It's possible for software developers to extend the supported file formats and metadata formats of the Remove Properties and Personal Information feature.
The Remove Properties and Personal Information feature has a built-in support for the removal of only a small number properties from only four supported file formats: JPEG, PNG, MP3, and MP4. The Small Problem: A Very Limited Support of File Formats and Metadata Elements In the Properties window, the user needs to select the Details tab, and then click on the " Remove Properties and Personal Information" link at the buttom. To access this feature, the user needs to select one or more files in Windows Explorer, right-click and select Properties from the context menu. However, this feature is unsuitable for the task since it supports a small number of file formats, it can remove a small number of metadata elements, and above all, it provides a dangerous false sense of privacy protection due to its highly misleading user interface. Removing metadata from files before sharing them with others is important for preventing sensitive personal information leakage. The Remove Properties and Personal Information feature has been introduced in Windows Vista® by Microsoft® to allow users to remove metadata from several file formats, either from one file at a time or from a group of files. Remove Properties and Personal Information: A Misleading Feature!