I am concerned that being that I can’t delete all properties of a .png file prior to posting that the information is retrievable to anyone viewing the post.
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Yes, Norton Community is an open forum and threads populate with search results (anyone can view).
Is there a message with PII?
When you Create new topic:
Note: Please do not post Personally Identifiable Information like email address, personal phone number, physical home address, product key etc.
I know not to include personal information when posting. My concern is that the details associated with a screenshot are retrievable to anyone viewing the screenshot. I have tried to delete most of the information associated with a screenshot (.png file), but I can’t delete it all. What is PII? I am not familiar with it.
Thank you for your reply
cv
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I just did a test and downloaded one the images you posted here. This is the only information I could see when I looked at the .png file.
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peterweb,
Thank you for the information. It looks to me from that screenshot that Norton has taken the steps to protect the personal information associated the the screenshot from being viewed by other users.
Thanks for your response,
cv
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While it is true that screenshots can carry hidden details, they are generally safer to share than original photos because they do not inherit the original file’s metadata
When you take a screenshot, the system creates a new image file that typically only contains technical data about that specific capture, such as the timestamp and device type, rather than the sensitive EXIF data (like GPS coordinates) attached to the original source.
What information is retrievable?
Even though screenshots strip original metadata, they still contain “data about data” that could be visible to others depending on how they are shared:
- Screenshot Metadata: Information like the date and time the screenshot was taken, the device model, and file resolution is often embedded in the new file.
- Visual Clues: Information visible on the screen—such as notification icons, battery percentage, signal strength, or background apps—can reveal details about your habits or location.
- Sharing Platforms:
- Strip Metadata: Most social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter, WhatsApp) automatically remove metadata from images for public viewing.
- Preserve Metadata: Email, iMessage, and sending files via Telegram usually preserve the full metadata, making it retrievable by the recipient.
How to protect your privacy
You can manually remove or prevent these details from being shared:
- On iPhone:
- Strip Location Before Sending: Tap the share icon, select Options at the top, and toggle off Location.
- Remove from Existing Files: In the Photos app, swipe up on a screenshot, tap Adjust next to the location, and select No Location.
- On Android (Google Photos):
- Remove Location: Open the photo, swipe up, and tap Remove location.
- Disable Future Tagging: In your Camera app settings, turn off Location tags or Geo-tagging.
- On Windows: Right-click the file, go to Properties > Details, and click Remove Properties and Personal Information.
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Hello @nychucky
Oh okay. I mis-read thinking you posted a snip with personal information.
PII = Personally Identifiable Information
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The Norton Community forums do not automatically strip EXIF metadata from uploaded screenshots or images.
If you post a screenshot directly to the forum, any embedded information—such as your device model, software version, or timestamps—may remain accessible to anyone who downloads the file. This contrasts with platforms like Imgur, which actively strip such data for privacy.
How to Protect Your Privacy
To ensure your personal information is not shared, you should manually scrub the metadata before uploading:
- Windows: Right-click the file, select Properties > Details, and click Remove Properties and Personal Information.
- Mobile: Use privacy settings to limit location access for your camera or screenshot tools, or use a third-party app designed to “scrub” photos.
- Third-Party Tools: Desktop utilities like ExifTool or ImageOptim can provide more comprehensive cleaning for sensitive documents.
While Norton’s security products (like Norton 360) monitor for malicious files and may upload metadata to their servers for threat analysis, this is a separate background process and does not apply to the forum’s public upload functionality.
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How to Remove GPS and Other Metadata Locations From Photos here Feb 2016
How To Remove Metadata From Your Photos here
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Note: AI sourced content may make mistakes
BJM,
Great information. I will definitely take it all into account before posting another screenshot.
cv
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While Norton products already collect significant data for threat analysis, security, and billing, posting a screenshot to the Norton Community forum introduces a different type of exposure: public-facing PII.
The key difference isn’t the amount of data, but who can see it.
Product Data vs. Forum Data
- Product Collection: Data collected by Norton (e.g., license identifiers, device metadata, or suspicious file samples) is generally encrypted and intended for internal security operations. Norton’s General Privacy Notice states they process this to maintain your account and protect your devices.
- Forum Exposure: Any data you provide on public forums is “read, collected, and used by others who access them”. Unlike internal product data, this information is indexed by search engines and visible to any visitor, not just Norton staff.
What “Extra” PII is in a Screenshot?
Depending on how you capture the image, you may inadvertently leak information that Norton’s background telemetry doesn’t typically expose to the public:
- Windows Account Name: Some versions of the Windows Snipping Tool have been known to embed your full Windows username in the metadata of saved JPG files.
- Device Identifiers: Screenshots on macOS can include the specific make and model of your computer and occasionally local directory information.
- System Details: Metadata often includes a timestamp (Date Taken), image resolution, and bit depth.
- Visual Leaks: The most common exposure isn’t in the metadata, but the image itself—such as open browser tabs, your email address in a corner, or sensitive file names on your desktop.
Summary of Risk
| Feature | Norton Product Telemetry | Norton Community Upload |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Norton/Gen Digital Security Teams | General Public & Search Engines |
| PII Sources | Account/Billing/Device Info | Windows Username, Metadata, Visuals |
| Privacy Control | Controlled by Privacy Settings | Manual scrubbing required before upload |
To minimize risk, you can check the Norton Privacy Center for details on their data handling or use the Norton Data Subject Request form if you need to request the removal of previously posted personal data.
https://us.norton.com/privacy/products-privacy-notice
Note: AI sourced content may make mistakes
Feels like you’re more aware than me.
My muscle memory seldom scrubs snips before upload.
I don’t know about that. You have been a great help to me over the years
cv
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