Files contain hidden information that can compromise your anonymity. Photos include GPS coordinates and camera details. Documents store author names and editing history. Sharing files without removing this metadata exposes your identity. This guide teaches you to share files securely on the dark web.

The Metadata Problem

Metadata is data about data. Every file contains information beyond its visible content. This hidden data often reveals far more than you realize.

Photos taken on smartphones embed GPS coordinates showing exactly where the photo was taken. They include the device model, camera settings, and timestamp. This information persists when you share the photo.

Microsoft Office documents store the author's name, company name, editing time, and revision history. PDFs contain creator information and software details. Even simple text files can have timestamps revealing when they were created.

This metadata creates a trail back to you. Someone analyzing a shared file can extract your location, name, device information, and habits. Most people share files with all this data intact, unknowingly compromising their privacy.

Removing Image Metadata

ExifTool

ExifTool is powerful command-line software for viewing and removing metadata from images. It works on all major operating systems and handles most image formats.

To view metadata: exiftool photo.jpg shows all embedded information. You'll often be surprised how much data your camera or phone records.

To remove all metadata: exiftool -all= photo.jpg strips everything from the image. The visual content remains but identifying information is gone.

MAT2 (Metadata Anonymisation Toolkit)

MAT2 provides a simpler interface for metadata removal. Install it on Linux systems or use the Windows version. It handles multiple file types including images, documents, and audio files.

Right-click files and select "Remove metadata" to clean them. MAT2 works on batches of files, making it efficient for cleaning multiple files at once.

Screenshot Method

A simple but effective method: take a screenshot of the image and share the screenshot instead. Screenshots generally don't preserve the original image's metadata.

This works best for photos where perfect quality isn't critical. Screenshots lose some quality and resolution but remove problematic metadata.

Critical Warning: Simply renaming a file doesn't remove metadata. You must use proper tools to strip hidden information. Many people incorrectly believe renaming provides protection.

Document Metadata

Microsoft Office Files

Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents store extensive metadata. Author names, company information, edit times, and revision history all embed in these files.

To remove metadata in Office: Go to File → Info → Check for Issues → Inspect Document. Select what to remove and click "Remove All." This strips most identifying information.

Better approach: Export Office documents as PDFs, then clean the PDF metadata. This removes hidden revision history and embedded objects that the Office inspector might miss.

PDFs

PDFs often contain creator information, software details, and timestamps. Some PDFs include embedded scripts or hidden layers.

Use qpdf to create clean PDFs: qpdf --linearize input.pdf output.pdf creates a new PDF with minimal metadata. Combine this with MAT2 for thorough cleaning.

Alternatively, print PDFs to a new PDF file. Most PDF viewers have "Print to PDF" options. This creates a fresh PDF with only the visible content, stripping metadata and embedded objects.

Plain Text Files

Text files seem simple but can contain timestamps and other metadata. For maximum safety, copy the text content into a new file created on your anonymous system.

Open the original file, select all text, copy it, paste into a new file created in a basic text editor. Save this new file. This ensures no metadata transfers.

Anonymous File Hosting

OnionShare

OnionShare creates temporary .onion addresses for file sharing. You select files, OnionShare generates a unique .onion URL, and recipients access files through Tor Browser.

Files never touch third-party servers. They transfer directly from your computer to the recipient. The .onion address stops working when you close OnionShare or stop sharing.

This is ideal for sharing sensitive files with specific people. No account required, no file size limits (beyond what your connection can handle), and complete control over who accesses files.

Dark Web File Hosts

Several .onion services host files anonymously. These services don't require accounts and don't log IP addresses (in theory). Upload files and get a link to share.

However, you're trusting the service operator. They could log uploads, examine files, or cooperate with authorities. For sensitive material, OnionShare's direct transfer is safer.

If using file hosts, encrypt files before uploading. This protects content even if the host operator is malicious.

Temporary Clearnet Services

Services like Firefox Send (discontinued but alternatives exist) allow temporary encrypted file sharing. These work on the regular internet but offer some privacy.

These are convenient but less secure than dark web alternatives. Your ISP sees you accessing the service. The service could be monitored. Use only for non-sensitive files or files you've already encrypted.

Encryption Before Sharing

Encrypting files before uploading provides defense in depth. Even if metadata cleaning fails or the hosting service is compromised, encrypted content remains protected.

GPG File Encryption

Use GPG to encrypt files for specific recipients. Only they can decrypt with their private key. This ensures complete confidentiality.

Command: gpg --encrypt --recipient [email protected] file.pdf creates file.pdf.gpg that only the recipient can decrypt.

For self-encryption (files you'll download yourself later): gpg --symmetric file.pdf encrypts with a passphrase you provide. Anyone with the passphrase can decrypt it.

7-Zip Encryption

7-Zip provides simple file encryption. Right-click files, choose "Add to archive," select "7z" format, set a strong password, and choose AES-256 encryption.

This creates an encrypted archive. Share this encrypted file - the contents remain protected even if intercepted. Provide the password through a separate secure channel.

VeraCrypt Containers

For multiple files or folders, create encrypted VeraCrypt containers. These act like encrypted drives that require a password to access.

Create a container, copy files into it, close it, and share the encrypted container file. Recipients need VeraCrypt and the password to access contents.

Best Practice: Assume every file host is compromised. Clean metadata thoroughly, encrypt files, and use anonymous hosting. Multiple layers of protection compensate for individual failures.

Secure Download Practices

Scan for Malware

Files from unknown sources might contain malware. Download files in isolated environments when possible. Use virtual machines or Tails OS that reset to clean states.

Scan downloaded files with antivirus software before opening. While not perfect, this catches known malware.

Verify File Hashes

Legitimate sharers often provide SHA256 hashes of files. Calculate the hash of your downloaded file and compare to the provided hash. Matching hashes prove the file wasn't modified.

On Linux: sha256sum filename. On Windows: certutil -hashfile filename SHA256. Compare the output to the expected hash.

Don't Execute Unknown Files

Never run executable files from untrusted sources. Programs can contain malware that compromises your system. Even documents can contain malicious macros or scripts.

Open documents in sandboxed environments or with security software that blocks macros and scripts.

Timing and Behavior

Avoid Patterns

Don't always share files at the same time of day. Timing patterns can identify you through correlation with other activities. Vary when you upload and share files.

File Sizes

Unique file sizes can identify specific files. If you share a 12.7 MB file and someone is monitoring for that exact size, correlation becomes easier.

Add random data to files before encrypting to make sizes less distinctive. A few kilobytes of random data obscures the original size.

Don't Share Personal Files

Files from your personal computer might contain unique artifacts. Fonts, templates, or software versions can identify your system.

Create files on anonymous systems when possible. If using personal computers, export to simple formats and recreate on clean systems.

Common File Types and Risks

Images

Photos are high risk for metadata. Always strip EXIF data. Consider whether image content itself reveals identifying information - reflections, backgrounds, unique objects.

Videos

Videos contain extensive metadata including GPS, device information, and editing software. Video files are large, making anonymous sharing challenging.

Extract key frames as images if video isn't necessary. Re-encode videos with clean metadata using ffmpeg: ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -map_metadata -1 output.mp4

Audio Files

Audio files contain metadata about recording devices and software. Voice recordings might be analyzed for voice prints identifying you.

Strip metadata with MAT2 or similar tools. Consider whether your voice itself is identifying.

Office Documents

These are especially dangerous for metadata. Revision history can reveal edit patterns and previous content. Embedded objects might contain hidden data.

Convert to PDF, then clean the PDF. Or copy content into new documents created on clean systems.

Tools Summary

Essential tools for secure file sharing:

ExifTool: Command-line metadata removal for images and more. Powerful but requires technical comfort.

MAT2: User-friendly metadata removal with graphical interface. Works on multiple file types.

OnionShare: Direct Tor-based file sharing. No third-party servers, maximum privacy.

GPG: File encryption for specific recipients or password-based encryption.

7-Zip: Simple archive encryption for protecting files before upload.

These tools cover most secure file sharing needs. Learn them thoroughly for reliable protection.

Legal Considerations

Sharing certain file types is illegal regardless of anonymity measures. Copyrighted material, illegal content, and regulated information remain illegal even with metadata removed and encryption applied.

Secure file sharing protects privacy, not legality. Use these techniques for legitimate privacy needs, not illegal activity.

Final Thoughts

Files leak information constantly. Metadata reveals your location, identity, and habits. Most people share files without considering these risks.

Make metadata removal and encryption routine. Check every file before sharing. Use anonymous hosting when appropriate. These practices protect your privacy and security.

Remember that perfect security is impossible. Multiple layers of protection compensate for individual failures. Clean metadata, encrypt files, use anonymous services, and verify everything.