ZeroTrace OSINT
Image Metadata
EXIF parsing, GPS extraction with map link, IPTC and XMP, embedded thumbnail, camera and lens serials, and a perceptual hash.
The image metadata tool reads embedded metadata from a photo and surfaces it in a structured view, EXIF (camera and exposure data), GPS coordinates, IPTC and XMP blocks, the embedded thumbnail, and a perceptual hash for near-duplicate detection.
It is the right first tool for any image investigation, the cheap wins are here.
Supported formats
The tool decodes JPEG, PNG, TIFF, WebP, GIF, and BMP. HEIC is not supported. The maximum file size is 64 MiB.
Full metadata extraction (EXIF, IPTC, XMP, thumbnail, serials) runs on JPEG files. PNG, TIFF, WebP, GIF, and BMP return format, dimensions, and a perceptual hash.
What you get
| Section | What it surfaces |
|---|---|
| EXIF tags | Camera make and model, lens, exposure (date/time, aperture, shutter, ISO, focal length), and the other tags present in the file |
| GPS | Latitude, longitude, and altitude, with a click-through to Google Maps and OpenStreetMap tile attribution on the result |
| IPTC | Caption, keywords, copyright, and creator fields (JPEG) |
| XMP | Extended-metadata fields (JPEG) |
| Thumbnail | The embedded thumbnail extracted as a separate image (JPEG) |
| Camera / lens serial | Serial numbers when the camera embedded them (JPEG) |
| Perceptual hash | A pHash of the image, useful for near-duplicate detection |
Why GPS matters
A photo with embedded GPS is the easiest geolocation in OSINT. Coordinates plus a click-through to a map, and you have your location.
The tool surfaces latitude, longitude, and altitude when the camera recorded them, with a Google Maps link to open the spot.
Many social-media platforms strip GPS from uploaded photos, but the original file the user shared often retains it. If you have access to the original, EXIF GPS is the answer most of the time. If you only have the social-media version, the GPS is usually gone.
Camera and lens serial numbers
Some cameras embed a serial number in EXIF (and occasionally a lens serial). If the same serial appears across photos from putatively-different sources, those photos came from the same equipment, a strong attribution signal. The tool surfaces serials when present.
Embedded thumbnail
JPEG files often embed a thumbnail. Sometimes the thumbnail was generated before the photographer cropped the visible image, meaning it shows scene content the visible image hides. The tool extracts and displays the embedded thumbnail when present.
Perceptual hash
The tool computes a pHash (perceptual hash) of the image. Two images with similar pHashes are likely the same picture, even after rescaling or light recompression, which is useful for spotting reuse of the same image across sources.
Sources
All parsing is local. The GPS section adds OpenStreetMap tile and Nominatim attribution to the result; the Google Maps link is constructed locally and opens in your browser when you click it.