Document redactions are a vital tool to control the release of sensitive or private information to the public. There are dozens of reasons why a business or organization might need to remove data from a PDF document before making it available for publication.
However, although less common, there are also occasions when you may wish to remove redactions. While those without authorization to the data should not be able to do so, there are legitimate occasions when an original publisher may want to recover redacted content.
Is it possible to unredact a PDF? Depending on the methods used, there may be some opportunities for recovering data. The best choice is to refer to an archived and original version of the file, hopefully still maintained in organizational files. Otherwise, you may find that the data in question is gone forever.
Key Takeaways
- Redaction is a secure and permanent solution for removing sensitive information from PDF files.
- Unredaction is only possible before a PDF file is saved; once the file is saved, the information under the redactions is gone forever.
- Tungsten Power PDF is the only tool that securely and permanently redacts sensitive data from PDF files.
How to remove redactions from the original PDF
Can you unredact a PDF if you own the original file? It depends. While in the process of redacting information from a PDF in Power PDF, redactions can be moved and changed as needed. If you’ve accidentally created a redaction that you’d like to change, you can easily remove the redaction and recover the content beneath it—as long as you don’t press “Save.”
Once a redacted file is saved, the applied redactions will be permanent. That means no record of the text typically remains, especially if a document has also had all its metadata removed. Users must always take care when working with redactions. Saving over the original copy of the document can cause permanent data loss. If done incorrectly, it’s possible to lose vital company information.
Can you remove redactions from a copy of the original PDF?
Whether your PDF is an original or a copy, redactions still function the same. Redactions can be removed, modified, and changed as needed until the document is saved. Once a document is saved, the redactions can no longer be modified.
How do you unredact images?
Just like text, images can be redacted under the same circumstances using Tungsten redaction tools. Prior to saving the PDF, images can be unredacted. After the PDF is saved, image redactions are permanent.
How to redact a document properly
When a document isn’t redacted properly, it can leave sensitive data at risk. For example, using a drawing tool to place a black bar over your text or recoloring text with a white font offers false protection, creating the illusion of redaction. However, these alterations can easily be reversed using standard PDF editors, compromising the integrity of your original document.
Tungsten Power PDF is the best and only way to completely and permanently redact sensitive data and ensure data privacy—but that’s not all this tool offers.
Enjoy other benefits of Power PDF including:
- An easy-to-use, Office-style interface
- The ability to create, edit, and convert PDF files to and from a variety of file formats
- Secure features like encrypted passwords and permissions
- Mobile support for iOS and Android
- eSignature capabilities
Be careful when working with redactions
Although many users have found themselves in situations where they might wish for a way to unredact a document, it simply isn’t possible most of the time. As frustrating as it might be, it’s also something for which we should be thankful. If redactions were easy to undo, they would have little to no value or use for protecting private information from release. Instead of worrying about removing redactions, take steps to guarantee that original, unredacted documents remain in a secure archive for any future needs.
Ensure you have the proper tools for working with redacted PDF files and the right procedures in place for safeguarding sensitive data. Learn more about encryption, redaction and general PDF editing when you try Power PDF free for 15 days.