File type // PDF
Scan PDFs for sensitive data
PDFs are the format people share most, and the one most likely to hide sensitive data in text and scans alike. FileSentinel reads inside both, locally on Windows.
Inside the PDF
Text and scans, both covered
A PDF can hold sensitive data two ways: as selectable text and as an image of a scanned page. Most scanners only read the first. FileSentinel reads both, using OCR to pull text out of scanned and image-based PDFs.
It flags SSNs, payment cards, account numbers, health information, and credentials, plus the document metadata the PDF carries, and scores each finding so the real risks rise to the top.
What it catches
Sensitive data inside PDFs
| In the PDF | FileSentinel finds |
|---|---|
| Selectable text | SSNs, cards, account numbers, PHI, credentials |
| Scanned pages | The same data, read via OCR |
| Document metadata | Author, producer, and timestamp properties |
| Forms | Filled-in personal and financial fields |
Then clean it
Redact and strip in one place
Once FileSentinel surfaces what is inside a PDF, you can redact sensitive values, strip document metadata to a clean copy, and export a report, all without uploading the file to an online tool.
Related
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Questions & answers
FAQ
Can FileSentinel read scanned PDFs?
Yes. With OCR enabled it reads text inside image-based and scanned PDFs, so sensitive data captured as a picture is caught the same as selectable text.
What sensitive data does it find in PDFs?
SSNs, payment cards, bank account and routing numbers, health information, credentials, and document metadata, each scored by confidence and severity.
Is the PDF uploaded anywhere?
No. FileSentinel reads and cleans PDFs entirely on your Windows PC with no cloud and no upload step.
Can it clean the PDF too?
Yes. Redact sensitive values and strip document metadata to a clean copy, with a remediation history of what changed.
Get FileSentinel
Scan PDFs for Sensitive Data (incl. OCR)
Install FileSentinel from the Microsoft Store and scan your files for sensitive data, all on your Windows PC with nothing uploaded.