The Fugue Counterpoint by Hans Fugal

Identification in PDFs

If you need to create a PDF with no embedded identification it may not be enough to simply refrain from typing your name. For example:

$ strings foo.pdf | egrep -i '(hans|fugal)'
/PTEX.FileName (./0_Users_fugalh_research_foo_fig1.pdf)
/Author (Hans Fugal)
/PTEX.FileName (./1_Users_fugalh_research_foo_fig2.pdf)
/Author (Hans Fugal)
/PTEX.FileName (./2_Users_fugalh_research_foo_fig3.pdf)
/Author (Hans Fugal)
/PTEX.FileName (./3_Users_fugalh_research_foo_fig4.pdf)
/Author (Hans Fugal)
/PTEX.FileName (./4_Users_fugalh_research_foo_fig5.pdf)
/Author (Hans Fugal)

The /PTEX lines are from pdftex and the /Author lines originated from gnuplot

/Title (fig1.pdf)
/Author (Hans Fugal)
/Creator (gnuplot 4.2 patchlevel 4 )

Removing the offending lines didn't hurt the PDF in this situation. So if you must anonymize a PDF (e.g. to submit a paper for blind review), be sure to check for hidden identification. Of course, most reviewers wouldn't go digging for it, but you will rest easy knowing it's truly anonymous.