Image Encryption

AES-256-GCM is the gold standard for symmetric encryption — trusted by governments, banks, and security professionals worldwide. When you encrypt an image, the pixel data and embedded metadata are transformed into an unreadable ciphertext that can only be recovered with the correct password. This goes far beyond simply stripping metadata with the EXIF Remover — encrypted files are cryptographically unrecoverable without the key. For journalists, investigators, and anyone handling sensitive visual evidence, image encryption adds a critical layer of protection during storage and transfer. To assess what metadata your photos already expose, start with the EXIF Checker.

A password alone is too short and predictable to serve as an encryption key directly. PBKDF2 (Password-Based Key Derivation Function 2) stretches your password through 600,000 rounds of SHA-256 hashing with a unique random salt, producing a 256-bit key that resists dictionary and brute-force attacks. Each encrypted file uses a different salt and initialization vector, so encrypting the same image with the same password produces a different ciphertext every time. This is the same approach used by password managers and full-disk encryption tools. For verifying file integrity without encryption, the File Hash Scanner generates MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-256 checksums.

Unlike server-side encryption services, this tool processes everything in your browser using the Web Crypto API — your images and passwords never leave your device. There is no server upload, no temporary storage, and no third-party key escrow. This zero-knowledge architecture means even the service operator cannot access your data. The same privacy-first approach powers all 76 Scanly tools, including the Privacy Score checker that evaluates what personal information your photos reveal. For protecting faces in images before sharing, the Face Blur tool offers automatic detection and blurring, and the Redaction Tool lets you permanently black out any region.

Encryption and metadata stripping solve different problems. The EXIF Remover strips GPS coordinates, camera serial numbers, and timestamps so the image can be shared safely — but the image itself remains visible. Encryption hides the entire image behind a password, making the file unviewable without decryption. Use metadata stripping when sharing photos publicly; use encryption when storing sensitive images or transferring them through untrusted channels. For a complete privacy workflow, check the GPS Map to visualize embedded location data before deciding which approach you need. Learn more in our articles on image encryption guide and photo privacy guide.