How to Securely Redact Documents
Learn the basics of document redaction with RedactProof - from uploading your PDF to exporting a verified, permanently redacted document.
Last updated: Aug 11, 2026
Privacy-First Architecture
RedactProof uses client-side processing. Your document is redacted in your browser and never leaves your device. The optional Precision mode (Pro, off by default) analyzes extracted text over an encrypted connection; it never sees the document itself. Only content-free metadata is sent to our servers: cryptographic hashes (mathematical fingerprints) for certificate registration, and redaction coordinates for optional saved sessions and team workflows - never document text.
RedactProof is a browser-based document redaction tool designed for professionals handling sensitive information. Unlike cloud-based alternatives that require uploading documents to external servers, RedactProof processes everything locally - giving you the security benefits of desktop software with the convenience of a web application.
Key Capabilities
- Automated Detection: Pattern recognition and on-device named-entity recognition identify names, addresses, dates of birth, and 60+ categories of personally identifiable information (PII)
- Pattern Matching: Regex-based detection for structured data like Social Security numbers, email addresses, phone numbers, and ZIP codes
- Pixel-Burn Redaction: Permanent, irrecoverable redaction that removes underlying text data - not just a black box overlay
- Verification Certificates: A tamper-evident certificate that lets the recipient confirm the file they hold is exactly what was exported
How Client-Side Processing Works
When you open a document, it loads directly into your browser's memory. Detection runs on your device, redactions are applied locally, and the finished document is downloaded directly to your device. Your file never leaves your browser. A cryptographic hash is sent to register your verification certificate, and if you enable the optional Precision mode (Pro, off by default), extracted text - never the file - is analyzed for deeper detection, used for inference only and never stored.
Step-by-Step Workflow
Step 1: Upload Your Document
- Navigate to app.redactproof.com
- Drag and drop your PDF onto the upload area, or click to browse
- Wait for the document to load in your browser
Step 2: Review Detected Information
Once loaded, RedactProof automatically scans your document. Detected items appear in the sidebar.
Step 3: Approve or Dismiss Detections
- Click the checkbox to approve for redaction
- Click dismiss (x) to ignore false positives
- Click the item to navigate to its location
Step 4: Export Your Redacted Document
- Click the Export button in the toolbar
- Wait for processing (progress bar shows status)
- Your download starts automatically