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Michael Howard's Web Log

A Simple Software Security Guy at Microsoft!
Office2003/XP Remove Hidden Data tool Available

I've been meaning to write about this for ages. So here goes, better late than never!

Many people, quite rightly, are concerned that sensitive or private data can reside in the metadata of documents created by productivity applications, such as Microsoft Office. To alleviate such potential risks, the Office team created a tool called the Remove Hidden Data tool, which, you guessed it, removes hidden data from documents!

Check it out at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=144E54ED-D43E-42CA-BC7B-5446D34E5360&displaylang=en.

Posted: Monday, March 01, 2004 2:58 AM by michael_HOWARD
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Comments

Yannick Smits said:

I thought a way to simulate this was to use the "Save As" option, which makes the file much smaller (and removes the hidden data?). Is this tool more powerful?
# March 1, 2004 3:29 AM

Mike Kolitz said:

Michael, I'm curious about how this would effect the meta-data collection in WinFS on Longhorn. Since WinFS uses (or rather, will use) meta-data for it's information storage, would this tool hinder WinFS's ability to catalogue Office documents, or wouldn't WinFS even look at the information being removed?
# March 1, 2004 3:15 PM

SecureCoder by Anil John said:

# March 2, 2004 11:12 AM

Ferris Beuller said:

I know of 2 cases which this caused problems (the recent SCO internal memo and the UK Gov). Any others?
# March 5, 2004 4:47 PM

Shelly's WebLog said:

Nice Tool, makes life simple :)
# May 25, 2004 4:32 AM

JETFTGY said:

would this tool hinder WinFS's ability to catalogue Office documents, or wouldn't WinFS even look at the information
# July 1, 2004 6:09 AM

steve matlock said:

"Save As" may reduce the file size for Word and PowerPoint. But RHD does more than reduce file size - it also removes the traces of data that can inadvertently reveal business processes or cause embarrassment.
# July 11, 2004 6:54 PM

adina said:

adina sabag
# July 15, 2004 12:46 PM
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