How can it be used forensically?
The first step you would have to take is to search the internet for a good Exif Reader. There are several and they are usually a free utility to download. They are also easy to navigate through and use.
Next, direct your utility to open the digital image in question.
This is just some of the information you could obtain very easily. If you look closely you can see not only a thumbnail preview of the image but some very interesting data. Such as:
* The make and model of the camera.
* The date and time the image was taken.
And even if the a flash was utilized by the camera. And if the image was taken using a cellular phone, for example a Blackberry Curve 8310, this information would be stored as well in the image. This information will follow the image from download to download. And barring the use of a metadata wiping utility to remove the Exif data, it will stay with the image. By now you are probably seeing the value to such data.
* Let's say you are examining a computer with child porn images and you locate digital images that have images of the bad guys daughter. You can use this utility to specify which camera or phone was used to obtain the image. This device can then be examined.
GPS?
Yes GPS tagging is attached to more and more digital devices. You simply take the longitude and latitude coordinates obtained from the Exif Reader and place them into a mapping utility, such as Google Maps, and it will tell you where the photograph was taken.
Just another tool to add to your growing arsenal.
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