realpls.com - Image Authenticity Checker

Minimal, privacy-first web tool for quick image authenticity checks

Date

November 2025 - Present

Type

Personal Project

Role

Full-Stack Developer

JavaScriptCloudflare PagesMetadata AnalysisImage ForensicsPrivacy-First Design

Overview

realpls.com is a minimal, privacy-first web application designed for quick image authenticity checks. Users can simply drop a photo to receive an instant "forensics report" that includes metadata inspection and lightweight visual/pixel analysis. Everything runs entirely in the browser—no uploads, no servers, no data collection. The tool is deployed on Cloudflare Pages for fast global access.

The Problem

With the proliferation of AI-generated and manipulated images across social media and news platforms, verifying image authenticity has become increasingly important. However, most existing solutions face significant challenges:

  • Require uploading potentially sensitive images to third-party servers
  • Complex interfaces that intimidate non-technical users
  • Expensive subscription models or limited free tiers
  • Slow processing times due to server-side analysis
  • Lack of transparency about what's being checked and how
  • Privacy concerns about where image data ends up

Solution & Approach

realpls.com addresses these issues with a simple, transparent approach:

  • Drag-and-drop interface that requires zero technical knowledge
  • 100% client-side processing—images never leave your browser
  • Comprehensive metadata extraction and analysis
  • Lightweight visual forensics including compression and artifact detection
  • Optional visualization overlays to highlight suspicious regions
  • Fast, instant results with no server round-trips
  • Completely free with no registration or login required

Technical Implementation

The application is built with performance and privacy as primary concerns:

  • Pure JavaScript implementation for all analysis operations
  • Canvas API for pixel-level image manipulation and analysis
  • EXIF and metadata parsing for extraction of embedded information
  • Compression artifact detection algorithms for manipulation hints
  • Visual overlay generation to highlight areas of interest
  • Cloudflare Pages deployment for global CDN distribution
  • Zero backend infrastructure—truly serverless architecture

Key Features

realpls.com provides a comprehensive yet accessible feature set:

  • Instant Analysis: Drop an image and get results immediately
  • Metadata Inspection: Extracts EXIF data, creation timestamps, camera information, and editing software traces
  • Compression Analysis: Detects JPEG compression artifacts that may indicate manipulation
  • Visual Forensics: Lightweight pixel-level checks for common manipulation patterns
  • Overlay Visualizations: Optional visual overlays highlight suspicious regions
  • Privacy Guaranteed: All processing happens locally in your browser
  • No Registration: Use immediately without creating an account

Technical Architecture

The tool is designed for maximum efficiency and privacy:

  • Static HTML/CSS/JavaScript bundle with no server dependencies
  • Local canvas-based image processing for all forensic operations
  • Client-side metadata parsing using JavaScript libraries
  • Cloudflare Pages for edge deployment and instant global availability
  • Progressive enhancement—works on all modern browsers

Use Cases

realpls.com serves various authenticity verification needs:

  • Social media users checking viral images before sharing
  • Journalists verifying photo authenticity for news coverage
  • Educators teaching media literacy and critical thinking
  • Researchers studying image manipulation techniques
  • Anyone curious about the origins and history of digital photos

Privacy & Security

Privacy is at the core of realpls.com:

  • Zero data collection—we don't see, store, or track your images
  • No server-side processing—everything happens on your device
  • No cookies, no analytics, no tracking scripts
  • Open architecture—you can verify how it works by inspecting the code

Try realpls.com

Visit the live application to start checking image authenticity right now—no signup required.