Redact Sensitive Info in Screenshots and PDFs (So It’s Gone for Real)

Blur ≠ redaction

Blurs and black rectangles placed on top can be reversed or removed if they’re just overlays. True redaction removes the pixels or text from the file before sharing.

Safer ways to hide data

• Raster screenshots: Use tools that permanently replace pixels with solid blocks, then export a new file.
• PDFs: Use a PDF editor’s redact feature (not “highlight” or “rectangle”). It should delete underlying text and metadata.
• Strip metadata (author, location, EXIF) before sharing.

Step-by-step workflow

1. Duplicate the file so you keep an unedited original.
2. Apply redaction (solid blocks or PDF redact tool) and flatten layers.
3. Export to a new PNG/PDF; open it again to confirm the text can’t be selected or revealed.
4. Deliver via a one-time, expiring link with a separate access code. How-to: The Safe Way to Share Passwords in 2025 (No Email).

Common mistakes (and fixes)

• CSS overlays or shapes in PDFs—not real redaction. Use a true redact tool instead.
• Leaving previews enabled in chats can leak content. See: Prevent Accidental Link Previews (Stop Unfurls).
• Reusing old files where hidden layers still exist. Always export a fresh, flattened copy.

Useful external tools & guides

• EFF: Clean your digital footprint 🔗
• Adobe Acrobat: Remove sensitive content 🔗
• ExifTool (strip metadata) 🔗

Related reading

Deliver documents without long-lived folders: Share Sensitive Photos and Documents Safely

Respond fast after a slip-up: The Simple Incident Playbook for Leaked Passwords

Keep links from auto-opening: Prevent Accidental Link Previews

Bottom line

Make redaction permanent, confirm it worked, and deliver the final file via an expiring, one-time link with a separate access code.

Secure One-Time Messages - Send confidential messages that self-destruct after being read once. Your privacy is our priority. →.