deleting PDFs with advertising from Group Library and local files

zoepster

I've recently discovered six PDF files that have embedded advertising in the metadata. The files are 1) on my local computer, 2) in a group library (Zotero storage), and--because we're syncing--also 3) on the computer of a colleague with whom I am collaborating. All six files come from different online databases, so I am a bit worried. Would it be possible to get advice on removing the files? Thanks so much!

dstillman

What do you mean by "embedded advertising in the metadata"? Can you provide an example?

zoepster

I will take a screenshot, put it in a google doc with a link making screenshot viewable. I can imagine much worse, but would like to make sure this doesn't spread.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/16UgNeH1JAB5j2t6_po3faVsIg2D5g7VlUYXEMfRVW6c/edit?usp=sharing

dstillman

But that's not Zotero?

zoepster

Right. I was using Devonthink to OCR the files when we discovered that these six files all came from Zotero where we have been storing (and sharing them).

dstillman

The advertising certainly didn't come from Zotero.

What's the zotero.org URL in the address bar when you click on the parent item in the web library? (You can x out the group name.)

zoepster

If it's as simple as just replacing each of these with a new version I'll be perfectly happy. Just wondered if there are best practices.

dstillman

I'm not really clear what you're suggesting here. There are no "best practices" because Zotero obviously didn't put advertising in your files — we have nothing to do with this. It looks like a watermark from a site that scans old newspapers:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fultonhistory.com

zoepster

Wasn't suggesting that it came from Zotero -- but I am wondering if there are recommended ways of deleting PDFs that have "hidden" content? There is an embedded link -- that takes you to a google map.

Notify collaborators: Turn off sync. I replace old PDF with new versions. Notify collaborators, turn sync back on. Sound good?

dstillman

No one has to turn off syncing. You can make whatever changes you want to the file and it will sync to everyone in the group.

You'd have to do this in an external PDF reader.

dstillman

And no, you're still confused about this. It's just a postcard image added as a watermark with the street address from the Fulton History site. It's macOS that's showing you a map, the way it does for any street address it recognizes.

Nothing is hidden. You can zoom in to see exactly what this is.

zoepster

Sounds good. I will try to remove it or just get a new version. I didn't mean to imply that Zotero had added the advertising -- just that the "watermark" had advertising that we were not expecting or aware of. Thanks!