Within Missing Proof
What File Metadata Could Have Revealed
Gary McKinnon's claims about seeing unusual NASA imagery and an Excel spreadsheet referring to "Non-Terrestrial Officers" remain difficult to evaluate because the original digital files have never been released for independent examination. That absence matters for a specific reason: in digital investigations, the file itself is only part of the evidence.
On this page
- Which metadata fields matter most
- How creator and revision data change interpretation
- Why missing metadata blocks authentication
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What File Metadata Could Have Revealed
Metadata is often described as “data about data”, but in forensic work it provides crucial context rather than mere administrative details. A single document or image can carry information that helps reconstruct its history independently of a witness’s recollection.
If McKinnon had been able to preserve the files he described, investigators would have examined fields such as:
- Creation date and time – whether the file originated years before the alleged discovery or had been generated shortly beforehand.
- Last modification date – whether the document was actively maintained or had become obsolete.
- Author and organisation fields – whether identifiable NASA personnel, contractors or automated systems created it.
- Application or software version – which program produced the file and whether that matched genuine government workflows.
- Revision history and edit counts – whether the document evolved through multiple drafts or appeared as a finished operational record.
- File path and directory structure – which project, department or server contained it.
- Technical characteristics – for images, factors such as resolution, colour depth, compression method and embedded camera or processing information where applicable.[Microsoft Support]support.microsoft.comSupport View or change the properties for an Office file | Microsoft SupportMicrosoft SupportView or change the properties for an Office file | Microsoft Support…
None of these fields would automatically prove or disprove extraordinary claims. Instead, they would provide objective clues about the document’s origin and intended purpose.
How Creator and Revision Data Change Interpretation
One of the strongest reasons metadata matters is that identical-looking documents can have entirely different meanings once their creation history becomes known.
For example, suppose an Excel spreadsheet contained unfamiliar ship names and personnel listings. Metadata could indicate that it:
- originated from a classified logistics programme;
- formed part of a training exercise;
- belonged to a simulation or wargame;
- was a draft awaiting review;
- or was created by an individual user experimenting with hypothetical scenarios.
Microsoft Office files routinely store properties including author, title, company information, creation dates, modification dates and other document characteristics. Depending on how the file was created and preserved, additional revision-related information may also exist. These fields frequently help investigators distinguish between operational documents and internal working material.[Microsoft Support]support.microsoft.comSupport View or change the properties for an Office fileMicrosoft SupportView or change the properties for an Office file - Microsoft Support…
The same principle applies to the alleged NASA image. A creator field identifying image-processing software, a rendering application or graphics workstation could suggest that the file represented visualisation work rather than photography. Conversely, metadata consistent with a scientific imaging pipeline would make different questions worth investigating.
Dates and Software History Matter
Dates alone rarely settle authenticity, but they frequently reshape interpretation.
Imagine that an unusual image carried metadata showing:
- creation during development of image-processing software;
- repeated edits over several months by graphics specialists;
- export from illustration software rather than scientific imaging software.
That pattern would point towards an image under development rather than an untouched operational photograph.
Alternatively, metadata showing creation directly within a NASA imaging workflow, with minimal editing and consistent timestamps across related files, would make the provenance substantially stronger, although still not conclusive.
Similarly, software history can expose anachronisms. A document supposedly created before a particular application version existed would immediately raise questions. Conversely, software versions consistent with the claimed period can strengthen confidence that the file genuinely originated when alleged, even if they cannot establish what its contents ultimately meant.
Why Missing Metadata Blocks Authentication
The absence of metadata prevents investigators from answering several basic forensic questions.
Without the original files, nobody can independently determine:
- whether filenames were remembered accurately;
- whether timestamps matched McKinnon’s reported access period;
- whether documents had identifiable creators;
- whether images had undergone editing;
- whether spreadsheets had extensive revision histories;
- whether the files belonged to operational directories or temporary working folders.
This limitation affects both believers and sceptics equally. Those who accept McKinnon’s account cannot demonstrate provenance, while those who reject it cannot identify ordinary explanations hidden within the file history. The missing metadata therefore preserves uncertainty rather than resolving it.
Modern digital forensic practice places considerable emphasis on preserving original digital evidence precisely because metadata is often as important as visible content. Documentation of origin, integrity and handling history allows later investigators to reproduce findings rather than relying solely on witness testimony.[Microsoft Support]support.microsoft.comSupport View or change the properties for an Office file | Microsoft SupportMicrosoft SupportView or change the properties for an Office file | Microsoft Support…
Why Metadata Alone Would Not Have Settled the UFO Question
Even complete metadata would not automatically validate extraordinary conclusions.
Metadata can itself be altered, removed or lost through ordinary copying, conversion or privacy-cleaning processes. Forensic analysts therefore compare metadata with many other forms of evidence, including server logs, file hashes, surrounding directory contents and chain-of-custody records, instead of treating metadata as infallible.[Microsoft Support]support.microsoft.comMicrosoft SupportRemove hidden data and personal information by inspecting documents, presentations, or workbooks | Microsoft Support…
Nevertheless, authentic metadata would have transformed the debate. Rather than arguing primarily over memories recorded years after the alleged events, researchers could have evaluated objective technical evidence regarding when the files were created, which software produced them, who edited them and how they fit into their original computing environment.
That is why the absence of file metadata is more than a missing technical detail. It is one of the principal reasons McKinnon’s UFO-related claims cannot move beyond testimony into independently verifiable digital evidence.
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Endnotes
1.
Source: support.microsoft.com
Title: Support View or change the properties for an Office file | Microsoft Support
Link:https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/Office/collab-files/view-or-change-the-properties-for-an-office-file
Source snippet
Microsoft SupportView or change the properties for an Office file | Microsoft Support...
2.
Source: support.microsoft.com
Link:https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/Office/collab-files/remove-hidden-data-and-personal-information-by-inspecting-documents-presentations-or-workbooks
Source snippet
Microsoft SupportRemove hidden data and personal information by inspecting documents, presentations, or workbooks | Microsoft Support...
3.
Source: support.microsoft.com
Title: Support View or change the properties for an Office file
Link:https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/view-or-change-the-properties-for-an-office-file-21d604c2-481e-4379-8e54-1dd4622c6b75
Source snippet
Microsoft SupportView or change the properties for an Office file - Microsoft Support...
4.
Source: learn.microsoft.com
Title: For more
Link:https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/purview/edisc-ref-document-metadata-fields
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metadata fields in eDiscovery | Microsoft LearnApril 2, 2026 — DOCUMENT METADATA FIELDS IN EDISCOVERY Feedback Summarize this article for...
Published: April 2, 2026
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Source: learn.microsoft.com
Link:https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/visualstudio/vsto/how-to-read-from-and-write-to-document-properties?view=visualstudio
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from and write to document properties - Visual Studio (Windows) | Microsoft LearnMarch 11, 2024 — READ FROM AND WRITE TO DOCUMENT PROPERT...
Published: March 11, 2024
6.
Source: support.microsoft.com
Title: change the author name for documents presentations or workbooks
Link:https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/Word/change-the-author-name-for-documents-presentations-or-workbooks
7.
Source: support.microsoft.com
Title: video change document properties d23cc86c bbd9 4e0b b821 16ff90970d3e
Link:https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/video-change-document-properties-d23cc86c-bbd9-4e0b-b821-16ff90970d3e
8.
Source: nist.gov
Title: digital evidence
Link:https://www.nist.gov/itl/ssd/software-quality-group/computer-forensics-tool-testing-program-cftt/digital-evidence
9.
Source: nist.gov
Link:https://www.nist.gov/digital-evidence
Additional References
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Link:https://digitalforensicstoday.com/metadata-extraction/
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A photo extracted directly from a device retains full EXIF. OFFICE DOCUMENT METADATA Microsoft Office files (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) store...
11.
Source: pages.nist.gov
Title: Before reading this tutoria
Link:https://pages.nist.gov/OSCAL/learn/tutorials/general/metadata/
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and Using MetadataNovember 8, 2023 — CREATING AND USING METADATA IN OSCAL This tutorial provides a walkthrough for creating the `metadata...
Published: November 8, 2023
12.
Source: mediawiki.org
Title: Manual:File metadata handling
Link:https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual%3AFile_metadata_handling
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February 2, 2026 — MANUAL:FILE METADATA HANDLING * Manual * Discussion [Input] English * Read * Edit * View history [Input] Tool...
Published: February 2, 2026
13.
Source: youtube.com
Title: UK hacker’s extradition to US blocked
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4Js8DF80HY
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This video provides important context regarding Gary McKinnon's claims about finding uncompressed UFO imagery and lists of "non-terrestri...
14.
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Title: Ancient Aliens: Hacking NASA Secrets (Season 12, Episode 9) | History
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Hacking for UFOs and fighting for his life. Who is Gary McKinnon? | NordVPN...
15.
Source: reddit.com
Title: Evidence of Metadata tamperinf in Microsoft Office Docs?
Link:https://www.reddit.com/r/computerforensics/comments/qx2mjl
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Evidence of Metadata tamperinf in Microsoft Office Docs?...
16.
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Source: youtube.com
Title: The Man Who Hacked the U.S. Government
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Ancient Aliens: TOP 10 ALIEN ENCOUNTERS OF 2023 | PART 2 | History...
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Title: Hacking for UFOs and fighting for his life. Who is Gary Mc Kinnon? | Nord VPN
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19.
Source: nist.gov
Title: digital evidence preservation considerations evidence handlers
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