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When sharing or publishing PDF documents, there might be occasions when certain information needs to be hidden from the final viewer. This is where the process of redaction comes in. By properly producing a redacted document, you can prevent leaks of confidential data with our document management software.
This blog will dive into the best practices for redacting PDFs using our redaction software and answer some frequently asked questions about security risks when redacting PDFs.
Redact a PDF in 5 Steps with PDF Reader Pro
PDF Reader Pro provides a professional and efficient redacting function. In five simple steps, you can permanently hide sensitive content and generate documents that meet security standards. The following guide will teach you how to redact PDFs quickly and accurately to ensure data security.
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Step 1: Launch PDF Reader Pro and import a PDF file.
Step 2: Click Protect on the toolbar and select Redact.
Step 3: Draw a rectangle over the text or directly choose the text you want to remove.
Step 4: Right-click the redactions and choose Apply Redactions, or hit Apply in the upper left corner.
Step 5: Select a folder to save the file.
Before applying the redactions, you can customize the redaction properties to suit your needs:
- Click Properties on the toolbar and change the Redaction Mark Outline Color and Redact Area Fill Color.
- Overlay custom text on redacted areas (e.g., "Confidential" or "Classified").
By following these steps, you can quickly and securely protect sensitive information, making PDF Reader Pro an ideal tool for legal, corporate, and personal document management.
If you are using a Mac computer, you can open a PDF with the built-in software Preview and redact a PDF. We will briefly explain how to do it:
Right-click the PDF -> choose Open with, and select Preview.
Click the 
icon, and click Redaction Selection 
.
You can also check out How to Redact in Preview for more detailed steps.
Redact PDFs Free and Online
Redacting sensitive information from PDFs has never been easier—no downloads required! With ComPDF online tools, you can securely remove or hide text, images, or metadata directly in your browser. Whether you’re protecting personal data or preparing confidential documents, these web-based solutions offer instant access and cross-device compatibility. Here’s how to redact PDFs for free in minutes.
Step 1: Open the website and click Open File.
Step 2: Choose Security and click Redaction.
Step 3: You can select Fill Black or Fill White and draw a rectangle over the text. If you choose Fill Black, the fill color will be black; if you choose Fill White, the fill color will be white.
Step 4: Click Apply in the right upper corner and tap Apply.
Step 5: After successfully redacting it, you can download the redacted document by clicking the More icon in the right upper corner and choosing Download.
Use Cases of Redactions
Redaction is a big deal in legal and government work—think of it as the “black marker” for digital docs, where keeping sensitive info under wraps is a must.
In legal settings, courts routinely redact documents before public release to safeguard personally identifiable information (PII)—such as Social Security numbers, addresses, or financial details—to prevent identity theft or exposure of private data. Sensitive details tied to ongoing investigations, classified materials, or non-essential private content are also obscured to comply with judicial requirements. For instance, court files might redact witness identities or confidential evidence to balance transparency with privacy.
Similarly, government agencies use redaction to shield classified intelligence, internal communications, or records involving national security before sharing them externally.
More importantly, effective redaction requires secure tools. Traditional methods, like covering text with black markers or changing font colors, have risks of information leakage, as hidden information can often be searched. Professional redaction software, like PDF Reader Pro, permanently removes or redacts content, ensuring the security of the files.
Image Resource: Pixabay
FAQs about How to Add Images to PDFs
Q: What is PDF redaction?
A: Redaction is permanently removing visible text and graphics from a document to avoid security risk. In the context of PDFs, it means obscuring or deleting sensitive information so it can't be viewed, accessed, or retrieved.
Q: Can I export redacted documents for free?
A: While there are free PDF editor tools available that offer redaction, it's crucial to choose a reputable one. Ensure that the tool you're using genuinely redacts the information rather than just obscuring it.
Q: Is redacted information on a digital document retrievable?
A: If properly redacted using appropriate tools, the information on your original document should be permanently removed and not retrievable.
Q: Can I remove a redaction once it is applied?
A: No. Proper redaction is a permanent action. This is why it's advised to save the redacted PDF document as a new file, preserving the original confidential document.
Conclusion
Redacting PDFs is important to protecting sensitive data, whether it's personal information, confidential business plans, or legally protected information. Reliable tools ensure that hidden content stays hidden forever, reducing risks such as accidental disclosure. For a seamless and secure editing experience, PDF Reader Pro also provides more encryption features. Are you ready to protect your documents? Download PDF Reader Pro now to make your files both professional and secure.
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