Personal Identifiers // Detector
Find Social Security numbers in your files
FileSentinel scans your documents, spreadsheets, PDFs, and images for Social Security numbers so you can catch them before a file is shared, uploaded, or emailed.
What it detects
What FileSentinel finds
FileSentinel reads inside your files and flags nine-digit Social Security numbers in their common written forms, including dashed (123-45-6789), spaced, and bare nine-digit runs that sit next to identifying context. Each hit gets a confidence and severity score so a real SSN stands out from a coincidental number.
Where it hides
- Word and PDF documents
- Excel and CSV exports
- Plain-text and config files
- Images and scans (via OCR)
// RESULTS — findings scored by confidence and severity
Why it matters
The risk of leaked SSNs
A single exposed SSN is enough to enable identity theft, and SSNs are treated as sensitive PII under nearly every US privacy and breach-notification law. They tend to pile up quietly in onboarding forms, scanned IDs, tax paperwork, and old spreadsheets.
- Onboarding forms and HR records that were never cleaned up
- Scanned IDs and tax documents sitting in Downloads or shared drives
- Legacy spreadsheets and CSV exports from older systems
- Screenshots where an SSN is visible on screen
How FileSentinel handles it
Built-in detection, scored and local
FileSentinel reads inside your files on your own machine, flags SSNs with a confidence and severity score, and helps you remediate. Built-in detectors cover the common cases, and a custom rule builder lets you add plain-text or regex detectors for anything specific to your work.
Score
Every finding gets a confidence and severity score, so real SSNs rise above coincidental matches.
OCR
With OCR on, FileSentinel reads text inside images and scanned PDFs, catching SSNs in screenshots and scans.
Remediate
Redact values, mark false positives, or export a CSV, HTML, or PDF report, then share with confidence.
Private by design
Your files never leave your PC
Scanning, OCR, and remediation all happen on-device. FileSentinel makes no network connections to do its work, so the very data you are trying to protect never has to leave your machine to be checked. No server, no cloud, no upload step.
More FileSentinel scanners
Find and clean more sensitive data
Questions & answers
Find SSNs FAQ
How do I find social security numbers in my files on Windows?
Install FileSentinel from the Microsoft Store, point it at a folder or drive, and start a scan. FileSentinel reads inside your files, flags social security numbers, and scores each finding by confidence and severity so the real risks rise to the top.
Is scanning for social security numbers private?
Yes. FileSentinel runs entirely on your device. Scanning, OCR, and remediation all happen locally with no uploads and no cloud, so the data you are trying to protect never has to leave to be checked.
How does FileSentinel avoid flagging every nine-digit number as an SSN?
Every finding carries a confidence and severity score. FileSentinel weighs formatting and surrounding context, so a true Social Security number is ranked above a random nine-digit string, and you can mark false positives so they stay quiet on the next scan.
What file types does FileSentinel check for social security numbers?
FileSentinel reads inside documents, spreadsheets, text, and PDFs, and with OCR enabled it reads text inside images and scanned PDFs too, so social security numbers captured in a screenshot or scan is caught as well.
Get FileSentinel
Find Social Security Numbers (SSNs) in Your Files
Install FileSentinel from the Microsoft Store and scan your files for sensitive data, all on your Windows PC with nothing uploaded.