How-to // Data discovery
How to find sensitive data on your computer
Sensitive data hides in forgotten files all over a typical PC. Here is a simple, private way to find it on Windows, using FileSentinel.
Start here
You probably have more than you think
Most people have no idea how much sensitive data sits on their computer: old tax PDFs, scanned IDs, exported spreadsheets, config files with passwords. The first step to protecting it is simply finding it.
The steps below walk through a local scan that never uploads your files.
The process
Find it in five steps
Install FileSentinel
Get FileSentinel from the Microsoft Store for Windows 10 or 11 and open it.
Choose what to scan
Point it at a folder, a whole drive, or a network share. Start with Downloads, Documents, and the Desktop, where sensitive files collect.
Turn on OCR
Enable OCR so the scan reads text inside screenshots, photos, and scanned PDFs, not just typed text.
Run the scan and review
Start the scan and review findings sorted by severity, with a confidence score on each so real risks stand out.
Clean up
Redact sensitive values, strip metadata to a clean copy, or delete files you no longer need, then export a report.
Stays on your PC
Nothing is uploaded
Every step happens on your own machine. FileSentinel makes no network connections to scan, so finding your sensitive data does not send any of it anywhere.
Related
Keep going
Questions & answers
FAQ
Where should I scan first?
Start with Downloads, Documents, and the Desktop, then any network shares. These are where exported, scanned, and forgotten sensitive files tend to gather.
Will scanning upload my files?
No. FileSentinel scans entirely on your device with no uploads or cloud.
What kinds of data will it find?
SSNs, payment cards, bank account numbers, tax IDs, health information, credentials and API keys, and hidden metadata.
What do I do with what it finds?
Redact values, strip metadata to a clean copy, delete what you do not need, and export a report of the results.
Get FileSentinel
How to Find Sensitive Data on Your Computer
Install FileSentinel from the Microsoft Store and scan your files for sensitive data, all on your Windows PC with nothing uploaded.