What to hide before sharing documents online: a checklist
A document-by-document checklist of what to hide before you share IDs, bank papers, payslips, tax forms, invoices and screenshots online, with a tool for each.
Updated · 2 min read
Do it now: free, in your browser, nothing uploaded.
Open Document templatesThe rule that covers most cases
Share what the recipient needs to do their job, and nothing else. Before you send or post a document, ask: who will see this, what do they need from it, and what could someone do with the rest?
Some details are worth hiding almost every time unless they're specifically asked for: full ID numbers, account and card numbers, signatures, QR codes, dates of birth and home addresses.
Identity documents
| Document | Usually hide |
|---|---|
| Aadhaar | First 8 digits, VID, QR code |
| PAN card | Date of birth, father's name, QR code, if not needed |
| Passport | MRZ lines, file number, pages they didn't ask for |
| Driving licence (India) or driver's license (US) | Licence number, address, date of birth, if not needed |
| Voter ID | EPIC number and address, if not needed |
| SSN card | All but the last 4 digits, unless the full number is required |
| Any ID card | ID number, barcode or QR code, signature |
Money, work and tax documents
| Document | Usually hide |
|---|---|
| Bank statement | Transactions and balances not needed, customer ID |
| Cheque | MICR line, signature |
| Bank passbook | Transaction pages, customer ID |
| Salary slip | Employee ID, PAN, bank account, deductions not needed |
| Form 16 or W-2 | PAN or SSN where allowed, employer tax IDs, address |
| Credit card | Card number except the last 4, expiry, CVV |
| UPI screenshot | UPI IDs, phone numbers, bank account digits |
| Invoice | Bank details, tax IDs, client details |
| GST certificate | Personal address and partner details, if not needed |
| Utility bill | Consumer or account number, usage history |
Some documents must be shared complete, for example for a loan, a visa or a tax filing. Check with the organisation asking before covering anything on those.
Everything else
- Resumes: for anonymous review, see Anonymize resume.
- Medical reports: see Redact medical report and how to redact medical records.
- Screenshots and chats: names, phone numbers, profile photos. See what to hide in screenshots and Blur WhatsApp chat.
- Photos: faces, number plates, house numbers and the location stored in the file.
How to do it in one pass
- Pick the matching page from all templates, or open the editor for anything else.
- Drop in the PDF, photo or screenshot. Up to 20 files can go in at once.
- Tick the fields to hide. Detected personal details are highlighted, and you can draw boxes over the rest.
- Export. Covered text is removed, metadata and photo location are stripped, and anything still legible is flagged before download.
Questions
Is it ever fine to share a full ID number?
Yes, when a regulated process genuinely needs it, such as some bank or tax requirements. If you're not sure, ask the organisation why they need it.
What's the most commonly missed detail?
QR codes and barcodes. They can carry the same details as the printed text, so cover them along with the text.