PDFs
How to remove hidden text from a PDF
PDFs can contain text layers, annotations, forms, links, attachments, scripts, thumbnails, and metadata that are not obvious in a normal viewer.
Test the obvious paths
After redaction, try selecting, copying, searching, and extracting text. Reopen the file in a second viewer.
- Search for the original value
- Inspect document properties
- Check annotations and attachments
- Verify form fields are gone
Rebuild when certainty matters
A flattened raster rebuild creates a new PDF containing sanitized page images rather than source document objects. This is FreeRedact’s default export method.
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