PDF privacy and security
Plain explanations of browser-local processing, what to check before you share, and what our tools do not claim to do.
Guides (13)
- Redact PII from a PDFScan for personal data, black it out permanently, and check the result.
- Send a PDF privatelyRedact, strip metadata, stamp and encrypt in one pass before sharing.
- Remove a PDF passwordStrip the password from a document you have the right to open, without uploading it.
- Redact before sharingWhy black rectangles are not redaction, and how to remove content so it stays removed.
- Unlock a PDF legallyRemove protection from a document you are allowed to open — with the password, not a crack.
- Are online PDF tools safe?Upload-based tools keep copies under their policies; local tools never need the file.
- PDF privacy guideA clear picture of upload pipelines vs in-browser processing — and how to share PDFs with less risk.
- Remove PDF metadataStrip common author and document Info fields before you share — locally.
- Password-protect a PDFAdd an open password so the file cannot be read without it — encryption stays local.
- Local vs cloud PDF processingA clear comparison of browser-local tools and upload-based PDF sites.
- Share a PDF securelyMinimum pages, redact, strip metadata, encrypt — then send the password apart from the file.
- Check PDF for hidden informationProperties, PII patterns, and attachments — a pre-share inspection checklist.
- Can a PDF contain malware?PDFs are usually documents, not programs — but treat unexpected files carefully. Practical checks, not scare tactics.
Related tools
- Privacy scannerScan a PDF for PII patterns and report what was found, without removing it.
- Auto-redact PIIDetect SSNs, emails, phones, and cards — then permanently black them out on matched pages.
- Deep CleanForensic-lite scrub — strip metadata, drop embedded files, clear OpenAction/JS markers, flatten forms. Safe-to-email prep, not NSA-grade wipe.
- Hidden Content AuditorFlag off-page text, tiny or near-white text, attachments, form residue, and JavaScript/OpenAction markers before you share.
- Confidential SendPrivate prep in one pass — scan/redact PII, strip metadata, watermark, encrypt — or Email Ready. Batch many PDFs into a zip.
- Sanitize for AIExport visible text only (drop images/layout) as .txt or a minimal PDF sized for ChatGPT/Claude paste — drafting help, not archival.
- Encrypt PDFPassword-protect a PDF so it cannot be opened without the password.