• MH370 speculation has become excessive recently. Metabunk is not a forum for creating theories by speculation. It's a forum for examining claims, and seeing if they hold up. Please respect this and keep threads on-topic. There are many other forums where speculation is welcome.

Debunked: MH370 Passenger Philip Wood sends Photo/Text from Diego Garcia [Fake EXIF GPS Data]

Balance

Senior Member.
Admin Edit by @Mick West: Since the entired theory rests on the claim is that the Exif data proves the location, this claim has been debunked by post #9, which demonstrates that Exif data can be easily changed.
https://www.metabunk.org/threads/de...photo-text-from-diego-garcia.3397/#post-98709


Material from the thread reproduced here for reference, main debunking by @Mick West

Summary:
  • The photo was originally posted on 4Chan, a notorious source of internet hoaxs
  • The GPS EXIF data in a photo is trivial to modify, there are many free apps that do it
  • The GPS EXIF data in the fake photo is in a different format than a standard iPhone 5 photo's data.
  • The fake photo's GPS is consistent with the format used by Picasa when editing EXIF.
  • The fake photo lacks altitude data, which is consistent with being edited, as most editors let you select position, but not altitude.
  • Photos taken in other iPhone apps still include altitude data
  • There is no evidence it is genuine, and a vast amount of evidence that it is fake.

It's easy to fake GPS EXIF data. Here's the same "photo" with the EXIF moved to the Flamingo hotel in Las Vegas:




Since it's such a trivial thing to fake, and combined with the ridiculous narrative of smugging an iPhone 5 up his rectum, and the image being black (iPhone 5 has a flash) the only sensible conclusion is that this is a hoax.

The originally posted photo seems to have been clumsily faked using the free software "Picasa", which left an indication in the EXIF data, adds extra "Photoshop" metadata, and stores the GPS data in a different format.


There's even several EXIF editor apps on the iPhone. Changing the GPS data is trivial.


And suggesting that you'd need to be some kind of super hacker to edit it at a low level are pretty silly, for several reasons:
  • It was not edited at a low level, it looks like it was edited by at least one program like Picasa.
  • "Super hackers" actually exist
  • It's really not that hard to fake in a much more convincing manner, you just have to find the GPS data, edit it in another program, then copy over the byes that change into the original.
I'm a reasonable coder, but there are millions of people who could do this. Here's the original, which I renamed 4ChangFake.jpg, and a version I modified to be binary identical except for the GPS (4ChanFake-UK-GPS.jpg).
https://www.metabunk.org/sk/4ChanFake.jpg
https://www.metabunk.org/sk/4ChanFakeUKGPS.jpg

You can load them into a hex editor, and see all that has changed is the GPS data. An undetectable forgery, far better than the messy job posted on 4Chan.



Programmer Ben Stragnell has written a quick tool "The Diegoizer" that takes any photo and undetectably modifies the GPS data to relocate the photo in Diego Garcia.

http://benstragnell.com/diego

For example, this photo of a mountain in California now has GPS coordinate of Diego Garcia:
https://www.metabunk.org/sk/mammothmountaindiego.jpg


OP Follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


http://jhaines6.wordpress.com/2014/...neer-successfully-dialed-out-of-diego-garcia/

MUST GO VIRAL. READ ALL OF THE FACTS BELOW LINK: Flight MH370 Co-ordinates to a remote island taken by a confirmed passenger of Malaysian Flight 370 named Philip Wood reveal what is known as a small island called Diego Garcia. The co-ordinates came from Philip's cellphone when he uploaded a black photo with a message claiming he himself is being held prisoner by unknown military.
Content from External Source

UNREPORTED FACTS REGARDING Flight MH370 and the United States Military Base Diego Garcia:
...
Content from External Source
This is so preposterous yet it's gone viral as so many are willing to believe it. I'm particularly sad about such conspiracy theories because of the effects it has on the relatives - such as told by Philip Woods partner Sarah Bajc here

I feel this CT merits a full debunk if possible. Unfortunately, I'm not experienced enough to do it alone so please, make it so?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
* The pilot's flight simulator has 'remote take-over' capabilities
Content from External Source
* Australian Military Radar Base: The Jindalee Operational Radar Network has the capabilities of detecting movements within a radius of 37,000km
Content from External Source

These two "claims" jumped out immediately. A home-based desktop computer Sim simply does not possess " 'remote take-over' capabilities ". This is just absurd.

The claim of the "Jindalee" network of radar having a detection radius of "37,000km"??

Earth's entire circumference is about 40,000km!!
 
I'm not claiming it's bunk for sure but I highly doubt the claim he hid an iPhone5 up his rear and retrieved it unaided. I base this on a TV program I recently watched where a doctor challenged a group of trainee doctors to demonstrate how difficult (and dangerous) it is to retrieve various objects from patients bottoms. It seemed a real struggle due to natural "suction" within the orifice in question.
 
some people knew about Diego Garcia. theres a pretty extensive wiki entry on it. (not sure why the brits would have to lease their own island)
The United States Navy operates Naval Support Facility (NSF) Diego Garcia, a large naval ship and submarine support base, military air base, communications and space-tracking facility, and an anchorage for pre-positioned military supplies for regional operations aboard Military Sealift Command ships in the lagoon.[4]
Content from External Source
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diego_Garcia
 
I base this on a TV program I recently watched where a doctor challenged a group of trainee doctors to demonstrate how difficult (and dangerous) it is to retrieve various objects from patients bottoms. It seemed a real struggle due to natural "suction" within the orifice in question.
Wow, television sure has made some brave strides into important new territory.
 
* Diego Garcia has never been mentioned to the public
Content from External Source
Well that's complete and utter bollocks, it's been mentioned everywhere, on every major news outlet.
 
It's nonsense because it's so easy to fake GPS EXIF data. Here's the same "photo" with the EXIF moved to the Flamingo hotel in Las Vegas:




Since it's such a trivial thing to fake, the only sensible conclusion is that this is a hoax.
 
It's nonsense because it's so easy to fake GPS EXIF data. Here's the same "photo" with the EXIF moved to the Flamingo hotel in Las Vegas:




Since it's such a trivial thing to fake, the only sensible conclusion is that this is a hoax.
Shouldn't that read 'most sensible conclusion?'
 
:eek: OMG! I just heard that Flight 370 is being hidden in the Flamingo Hotel!!! :eek:





Rand Paul 2016 Presidential Prrospects.jpg
Edit: After doing a 'Google Image' search,
it turns out that this photo is actually
"Rand Paul's True 2016 Presidential Prospects"
 
Well, are you saying that is literally the only sensible conclusion possible in this scenario?
I'm totally open to another conclusion that is sensible. But all seem ridiculous. If you've got another sensible one, this would be a great place to insert it! :)
 
I'm totally open to another conclusion that is sensible. But all seem ridiculous.
Ok, so you've given them 'all' a thought and deemed them as not sensible (in your words: ridiculous)?
Care to go over some of them so I can decide myself on them?
I'm just curious to what other scenarios there could be.
If you've got another sensible one, this would be a great place to insert it! :)
As soon as I think of one, I will.
 
Ok, so you've given them 'all' a thought and deemed them as not sensible (in your words: ridiculous)?
Care to go over some of them so I can decide myself on them?
I'm just curious to what other scenarios there could be.

As soon as I think of one, I will.
Well, I could sit here all night and spin yarns for ya...each more fantastical than the last...probably wouldn't get us very far.

Again, if you don't think it's the only sensible one, all you need to do is produce another sensible one.








"I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to ya'!" Screen Shot 2014-04-03 at 12.26.16 AM.png Sept. '08
 
Last edited:
Care to go over some of them so I can decide myself on them?
Someone posted on 4chan
I have been held hostage by unknown military personal after my flight was hijacked (blindfolded). I work for IBM and I have managed to hide my cellphone in my ass during the hijack. I have been separated from the rest of the passengers and I am in a cell. My name is Philip Wood. I think I have been drugged as well and cannot think clearly.
Content from External Source
and included a black photo with exif data showing GPS location of Diego Garcia.

Do you think this is a sensible thing to do, given the circumstances?
 
I'm puzzling hard to think of a way to believe that thinking this is not a hoax is 'sensible'. I can't. There are two possibilities, it is legit, it is a hoax. There are no compelling details that would in any way lend credence to it being real, therefore, it's a hoax, and that is sensible. What is your point Josh? Was you serious or just teasing?
 
Someone posted on 4chan
I have been held hostage by unknown military personal after my flight was hijacked (blindfolded). I work for IBM and I have managed to hide my cellphone in my ass during the hijack. I have been separated from the rest of the passengers and I am in a cell. My name is Philip Wood. I think I have been drugged as well and cannot think clearly.
Content from External Source
and included a black photo with exif data showing GPS location of Diego Garcia.

Do you think this is a sensible thing to do, given the circumstances?
4chan is where I turn in emergencies.
 

* Diego Garcia has never been mentioned to the public
Content from External Source
HA! It got mentioned numerious times at the beginning of the war in Afganistan and war in Iraq.
 
BTW, the last time I was in Diego Garcia was in 2001. Back then there were no cell towers. Have yet to hear that there are any now.
 
I appreciate this video :

it refears to archive4 and seems well done to me. Also on Sarah Bajc, this one which clarify the curious way she appears in the medias -excet since the text and pic from Philip became known :


Yoichi Shimatsu and Jeff Rense spoke of them here :
http://rense.gsradio.net:8080/rense/special/rense_Shimatsu_Mystery_033114.mp3

She was managing director in TELCOM which is specialised in remote-piloting tech (at 21')

All this is too serious to be laughted at. By the way, Glenn Beck took it as rubbish and had critics on his facebook page.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I appreciate this video :

it refears to archive4 and seems well done to me. Also on Sarah Bajc, this one which clarify the curious way she appears in the medias -excet since the text and pic from Philip became known :


Yoichi Shimatsu and Jeff Rense spoke of them here :
http://rense.gsradio.net:8080/rense/special/rense_Shimatsu_Mystery_033114.mp3

She was managing director in TELCOM which is specialised in remote-piloting tech (at 21')

All this is too serious to be laughted at. By the way, Glenn Beck took it as rubbish and had critics on his facebook page.

This simply seems to be a continuation of the hoax. There is no new information here. The EXIF data has already been shown to be easily faked.
 
...this one which clarify the curious way she appears in the medias...

And that video is one person's horribly uninformed (and terribly "sourced") opinion. (His childish snicker when he first referred to Ms. Bajc as Philip Wood's partner, and quickly amended it to "girlfriend". That causes me to sincerely think the video narrator is lacking any credibility).

Seems next, we will see someone else use that video (or a version of it) and claim that Sarah Bajc is showing "reptilian" features in her eyes!!
 
It's nonsense because it's so easy to fake GPS EXIF data. Here's the same "photo" with the EXIF moved to the Flamingo hotel in Las Vegas:




Since it's such a trivial thing to fake, the only sensible conclusion is that this is a hoax.
So, Mick, you're saying that the U.S. government has secret teleportation technology and they've transported the prisoner from Diego Garcia to Fun City? We're through the looking glass here, people.

Really, just about anyone with a hex editor and a little time can modify exif data. Obvious hoax.
 
This simply seems to be a continuation of the hoax. There is no new information here. The EXIF data has already been shown to be easily faked.

I have seen that -I apologize if my English is not right, I am French-. The reason why I posted this video is because you have on it the archive4 forum's message and the reactions. The pic is from the 18th and the messages from the 19th. I guess if it was a fake it would have been used sooner. Moreover the EXIF don't seem so precise on Diego Garcia, as they should be if they were done in a wrong aim. I feel concerning the MH370's disappearance as very many persons who commented after Glenn Beck video. No one can ask me to trust a plane can disappear like than with all the tech precision we now have.
 
So, Mick, you're saying that the U.S. government has secret teleportation technology and they've transported the prisoner from Diego Garcia to Fun City?

Not to stray OT, but this made me chuckle, because there are actually people who post in the Inter-Webs that the USA has a base occupied and staffed by Humans on Mars, and that they use some sort of teleportation to shuttle back-and-forth.

So, next (no doubt) there will soon appear an image of the MH370 B777 sitting on the martian landscape. >sigh<
 
And that video is one person's horribly uninformed (and terribly "sourced") opinion. (His childish snicker when he first referred to Ms. Bajc as Philip Wood's partner, and quickly amended it to "girlfriend". That causes me to sincerely think the video narrator is lacking any credibility).

Seems next, we will see someone else use that video (or a version of it) and claim that Sarah Bajc is showing "reptilian" features in her eyes!!

I feel very difficult to find the right piece of work which is the exact demonstration which answers to all the questions I have. For example, on this website : http://nodisinfo.com/ some infos seem correct to me, some others not. But when I read this article without affect, just looking in a precise way, I must admit the pic seem photoshoped :
http://nodisinfo.com/phil-wood/
 
Not to stray OT, but this made me chuckle, because there are actually people who post in the Inter-Webs that the USA has a base occupied and staffed by Humans on Mars, and that they use some sort of teleportation to shuttle back-and-forth.

So, next (no doubt) there will soon appear an image of the MH370 B777 sitting on the martian landscape. >sigh<
The black screen is also kind of a dumb aspect of the hoax. The iPhone5 has a front-facing camera and the screen would have provided some illumination if he held it close to his face. I'm guessing they did it this way because it would have required a little bit of effort to fake up a believable-looking image for Wood's face, but faking the EXIF data was only 5 minute's work. The iPhone5 also has an LED flash.
 
I appreciate this video :

it refears to archive4 and seems well done to me. Also on Sarah Bajc, this one which clarify the curious way she appears in the medias -excet since the text and pic from Philip became known :


Yoichi Shimatsu and Jeff Rense spoke of them here :
http://rense.gsradio.net:8080/rense/special/rense_Shimatsu_Mystery_033114.mp3

She was managing director in TELCOM which is specialised in remote-piloting tech (at 21')

All this is too serious to be laughted at. By the way, Glenn Beck took it as rubbish and had critics on his facebook page.

The amateur psychoanalysis in the second video actually makes me pissed off. Who is this idiot to laugh at this woman's grief? What a jackass.
 
Yeah...maybe since it was up his "bum" he just stuck a finger in and pressed the shutter button? (Sorry, but this hoax lends itself to much derisive humor).
Yeah, I guess somehow he got Siri to understand him well enough to compose the text without extracting the phone from his bum. I need a volunteer to test this theory.
 
The amateur psychoanalysis in the second video actually makes me pissed off. Who is this idiot to laugh at this woman's grief? What a jackass.

If you listen at 5' the video, you will hear exactly what an experienced pilot wrote on Glenn Beck's fb page :



Of course, I saw the name "red pile revolution" ; I don't care. In my opinion, you can find a parcel of truth, or infos which make sense to you in places you don't necessarly value, but which write on a subject by which you feel concerned. Then it is possible to look if the ones you trust can fit together.

One who laughs is Glenn Beck, and I wonder why, if the pic and the message are so stupid, three persons on a TV show gave such a bad narration, laughing really as idiots :
http://www.glennbeck.com/2014/04/01...urrounding-the-disappearance-of-flight-mh370/
 
....you will hear exactly what an experienced pilot wrote on Glenn Beck's fb page....

And, once again so sorry, but ANYTHING related to Glenn Beck will require a full examination to determine its bunk.

Keeping in mind that Mr. Beck certainly cannot control who writes and posts on his FB page...but, there is always a strong possibility of a "POE" event, in this instance (for example, someone who does not like Mr. Beck and is merely attempting to "spool him up" for personal entertainment purposes).
 
Back
Top