How to rename author in individual file properties.

[BretMan]

Hello,

I just joined and looking forward to learning.

I just realized today that there will be files I have now or will be creating, consisting of "Office" Kingsoft Office, digital photographs, etc., files which I would prefer not to have my name showing in the file properties information, such as what's shown in properties>details>author. System administrator, PC's model name administrator, etc., include my name. My name is spelled there the same as what's shown during the windows 7 logon screen when it asks for the password.

I've had this PC for a few years and I assume I set what my administrator name is when I first set it up. I also assume every file I ever created since has my name shown in it that way. Security issues being what they are today, this may not be a good idea so I want to change my name in the file properties or even better, not have any name at all. I'd also rather be able to do this individually on a file by file basis for some files I may send to people I don't know well or their security habits.

How do I change or remove my name from file properties information?

Thank you.

 

[logicearth]

In the properties under details there should be an option that removes all that information...

However, not currently at a computer to see myself.

 

[BretMan]

Thanks for the reply. A sample jpeg file I'm looking at Properties>Security list "Group or user names" with three entries listed: 1-System, 2-my name (computer model) and my name again, and 3- Administrators (Computer model name). Below that list box are two buttons Add... and Remove. Selecting Remove pops up an alert saying it can't remove unless inherited permissions are changed. So, I think that's about changing permissions for the whole PC, which I don't want to do. I want to "Remove" the names shown for just this or other individual files.

 

[BretMan]

I just stumbled on a possible solution. In the jpeg file's Properties>Details tab, not the Security Tab, it offers at the bottom "Remove Properties and personal information" this seems to be the exif file information. Author, file location and other identifying information is listed and there's an option to remove them all in this file or a copy of the same file. I think that should take care of the jpeg files. I checked other file extension types and I'm seeing a similar removal option. Thanks for your help.

 

[BretMan]

... argh! Nope, it didn't "take". The Securities tab still shows the former information. I closed and opened the file etc. but the same situation exists. Please advise.

 

[logicearth]

The security tab does not transfer with the file! That stuff is required without it you could not access that file on your computer. The security tab deals with the low level access rights, DO NOT MESS WITH THAT.

 

[BretMan]

How to remove all personal information from file properties

Ok. That's a step in the right direction. I tried it again with "Remove the following properties from this file" with "Select all" for the existing file and to make a copy with "Create a copy with all possible properties removed". Both options removed some of it. But both the original and the copy file still show my name in General Tab>Location: C:\Users\MyName\Documents... , in Details Tab>Folder path: C:\Users\MyName\MyDocuments... and Owner: ComputerModel\MyName... however Author and the camera infomation is clear. Computer: may have it too but what's listed is too short to see if it's there.

 

[BretMan]

I tried something else. I copied both files and and a Kingsoft created "Word" file to an SD card. Both jpeg files only show the General and Details tabs. The General tab>Location: only shows the drive letter - that's it. The Details tab>Folder Path: (only drive letter is shown), Owner: Everyone. The only listed info. is about the file name, photo size, etc. but not my personal info. For the Word file I performed the Remove function while it was in the SD card and I got the same results as with the jpegs. So it's looking as if the problem is solved. Next question: 1- If I send the cleaned files from the SD card as an email attachment, I'd say it's safe to assume my personal info. will not be in the sent files. What about if I send the same files while located on my C: drive, which is showing me it still has my personal info. in Details as described in my last post? Will that personal information still be transferred with it? 2- What about metadata? Is there some hidden information in these files which identifies me, even in the files located in the SD card? If so how do I remove it without affecting the wanted file contents?

 

[Windows Sniper]

Ok. That's a step in the right direction. I tried it again with "Remove the following properties from this file" with "Select all" for the existing file and to make a copy with "Create a copy with all possible properties removed". Both options removed some of it. But both the original and the copy file still show my name in General Tab>Location: C:\Users\MyName\Documents... , in Details Tab>Folder path: C:\Users\MyName\MyDocuments... and Owner: ComputerModel\MyName... however Author and the camera infomation is clear. Computer: may have it too but what's listed is too short to see if it's there.

The reason it is still showing you as the Owner and listed in your documents is becuase that is the base default of the file.

As you are logged in with your usernamer to the computer and it is available to you, you are the owner.

The Location shows were it is currently held, the only way to change that is to change the base directory..


Sending these files from either c:\, d:\ or whichever drive will not display your name once sent to the new owner of the file.

The only meta data that is created is the physical space in the storage device, which you cannot do anything about, and the Thumbnails.db will update only the image propertys so it can be viewed in the folder.

 

[logicearth]

Bret, various part of the information in the properties is not part of the image. General > Location is the location of the file on the HDD, that will always reflect its location within the file system, this information does not transfer with the file if you were to send it.

Also various items with in Details under "File" do not transfer with the file, its just meta data that is part of the file system. Stuff like "Folder Path", "Attributes", "Owner", "Computer", etc.

 

[BretMan]

I see. It's curious that Microsoft doesn't include some reminder of warning about all this and the options to clean the files. So, are you then saying that even files I've sent in the past which I haven't cleaned the Properties before sending, didn't contain any personal information as described - unless the file label I gave it has my name or the data I wrote in a doc. has my name in it?

 

[Windows Sniper]

I see. It's curious that Microsoft doesn't include some reminder of warning about all this and the options to clean the files. So, are you then saying that even files I've sent in the past which I haven't cleaned the Properties before sending, didn't contain any personal information as described - unless the file label I gave it has my name or the data I wrote in a doc. has my name in it?

No any file you have sent in the past will automatically include creation date / author and any other information as specified by your machine.

You must remember that Microsoft sells this product to a all consumers, those who need to know this information can find it freely on their website, but you have to see it from their POV that not every user needs to know this information, so why waste time telling the world about it.

 

[BretMan]

Understood. So I'll clean file properties for files sent to those I haven't confirmed about their trustworthiness yet. For everyone else, it would be a good idea to minimize the default information Windows automatically adds to the file properties and the only thing that bothers me is my full name where previously described. I guess I mad that mistake when I initially set up this PC when I first bought it and set myself as the Administrator. Is there a way to change or rename myself, say to just an initial as the Administrator, so all file properties will only show that initial as the User, Author, Created by etc.?

 

[Windows Sniper]

Yes there is, http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/7417-built-administrator-account-change-name.html You want option 3.


But I would seriously suggest you setup a normal user account and, and use that for your day to day activities! Not only for security, but for ease of use, using the Admin account only for admin duties!

 

[BretMan]

Ok. So to clarify, you're suggesting I do this for both the Built-In admin acct. (No.3) and the normal user account. Are the instructions the same? Also, once done, will all my existing files and properties adopt my new "Name" or just the ones created after I make these changes?

 

[Windows Sniper]

Ok. So to clarify, you're suggesting I do this for both the Built-In admin acct. (No.3) and the normal user account. Are the instructions the same? Also, once done, will all my existing files and properties adopt my new "Name" or just the ones created after I make these changes?

Firstly, no.

I am suggesting you leave the administrator account alone, and actually create a standard user account for your day to day activities.

During the creation of the standard account, you can set the name to whatever you would prefer, and it will become the author name on files created with that account.


The process is the same for both, however, i merely provided the link incase you so desire to rename your Admin account.


Yes, they will all reflect or 'Display' the changes made.



May i ask why you have suddenly decided to go on a purging spree, it is a lot of hassle for a standard user?
To reflect on your OP, security issues don't tend to get information from file authors, as they only tell a small story, if they are in a position to even access the file, that is the security issue.

 

[BretMan]

Thanks for all you help on this. I need to wait a couple days to make the change as I have several windows open and don't want to close them yet and it's probably a good idea to close all programs before I make the changes. The reason I'm doing this is because I'm very careful with my personal and work information. I warn my friends constantly and they still get into all kinds of headaches with their bad online habits. I do antivirus scans weekly and try to search stealthily as a general practice. Still, every once in a long while I'll pick up a virus that does who knows what. I avoid Google, Facebook, loading scripts, etc. as much as possible, scan everything incoming and update financial passwords when necessary. I'm considering using the tor network in the future. I could get even more "paranoid" but as it is, it's a chore and I think my work and personal information is likely to be safe still. So, if this name change process is easy, why not? The less the snooping entities can find out to be used to possibly try to hurt me the better - I think.

 

[Callender]

Remove info from file properties

Well it's not much to worry about if you're the only user with access to the files. If you want to share them and are concerned - a good test is to open the file on another machine and check file properties to see what's actually displayed.

Other than the "Create a copy with all possible properties removed" you could try the following:

For office documents the new [x] format shouldn't contain metadata anyway .docx ,xlsx but if you're using the old format .doc .xlx and so on you can remove and edit meta data using the following free software:

Document Metadata Cleaner

Works on MS Office but I've also tested it on other free office suites.

You can edit individual files or multiple files in a folder.

For image metadata I tend to use:

Rainbow Software - Programs

Note: You will still see info under Owner and Computer but these properties don't transfer when you send the file to another machine.

 

[BretMan]

Great suggestion. I think I will definitely use those.

 

[pytidi]

For office documents the new [x] format shouldn't contain metadata anyway .docx ,xlsx

That's not true. The new formats can certainly contain metadata. The Document Inspector that comes with Office 2007 and above can remove this metadata from one file at a time. There is no free batch metadata remover for this files similar to Document Metadata Cleaner, but there is a commercial program called BatchPurifier that can do that (costs $19).