Too much information? Spotlight, metadata, and privacy
In his “Devil’s Advocate” column at MacObserver, John Kheit reveals just how much information about the files on your computer is stored as metadata in Spotlight’s database and elsewhere.
Did you know, for example, that a metadata record is kept of the location from which you downloaded every file in Safari? This information is not embedded in the file and not sent on when you forward the file, but other kinds of metadata are.
The column details the different types of metadata on your Mac and how to find them, outlines some privacy concerns and provides advice about stripping it before sending files to others.
One solution, he suggests, is to get Mail.app to strip metadata from attachments before sending them.
Potential breaches of privacy and confidentiality are concerns for everyone, not just Windows Vista users.
Tags: Apple Mail, mail.app, metadata, privacy, SpotlightRelated posts