Excel Metadata
When you save a spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel, Excel will save additional data in
the spreadsheet called metadata. This information is used to enable features of
Microsoft Excel, or to enable other software to automatically index the document
intelligently on your corporate network (like author information).
Regardless, while this information may be useful you, it can be dangerous if the
information is leaked outside of your corporation.
Some examples of metadata stored in a Word document include:
- Author's name
- Author's company name
- The name of your computer
- The name of your server where you stored the document
- The names of previous authors or editors of the document
- Embedded OLE objects, such as Excel Spreadsheets used to build charts or graphs
- Revision history
- Hidden rows, columns or spreadsheets
- Hidden comments
- Formulas
Metadata example: Hidden Rows or Columns
How often have you sent or received an Excel file containing hidden rows, columns and sheets? We are guessing it's more often than you think. Hidden areas inside Excel are
hard to spot and often contain more information than you want to share, like the one on the left. On the right, that area is un-hidden.
SendShield discovers forgotten data in your Excel file so you don't have to.
(Click to enlarge)
See Also
Microsoft Word Metadata
Microsoft PowerPoint Metadata
