PowerPoint Metadata
When you save a presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint, PowerPoint will save additional data in
the presentation called metadata. This information is used to enable features of
Microsoft PowerPoint, or to enable other software to automatically index the presentation
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.
Did you know that in older versions of Microsoft PowerPoint, when you deleted a slide,
the slide remained inside the saved file even though you could not see it? (This was
part of the PowerPoint "fast save" feature). Imagine sending this document to someone
with confidential slides that you had thought were deleted?
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 comments
- Talking notes which you may have used for an oral presentation
Metadata Example: Charts
Most people like including charts in their presentations. However, when pasted from an Excel file, these charts often contain
the entire spreadsheet from which the chart was created. On the surface the chart on the left looks harmless, but the hidden
metadata in the spreadsheet can contain your private information. To reveal it, just
double-click on the chart and all your data (right) is revealed!
SendShield catches embedded Excel files and other data in your PowerPoint presentations before you email them.
(Click to enlarge)
See Also
Microsoft Word Metadata
Microsoft Excel Metadata
