Why this matters
The Author field on resumes is often auto-populated with your real name from your Microsoft or Adobe account — even if you've removed it from the visible text.
Some PDF generators embed the original file path, which can include your Windows username (often your real name).
Recruiters with basic PDF forensics skills can read this metadata in seconds using free tools.
Anonymous job applications (used to reduce hiring bias at progressive companies) are defeated by metadata leaks.
What the scanner detects
- Author field (your real name, auto-populated)
- Email addresses in the visible text (visible PII)
- Phone numbers in the visible text (visible PII)
- Original file path with potential username leak
- Creation timestamps revealing your timezone
Ready to scan your PDF?
Drop your file into the scanner. Results in 5 seconds. Nothing leaves your browser.
Open the scannerHow it works
Click "Scan your PDF now" above. The scanner opens in your browser tab — no download, no install.
Drop in your PDF. The file is parsed entirely in your browser using JavaScript. No upload, no server, no logs.
Review your 0–100 risk score, the list of findings, and the AI-generated redaction recommendations. Then take action.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make my resume PDF truly anonymous?
Two steps: (1) Remove your name, email, and phone from the visible text, (2) Run the PDF through PrivacyScanPDF to strip the Author field, Creator, timestamps, and XMP metadata. The scanner also detects any remaining email addresses or phone numbers in the visible text so you can redact them.
What metadata does my resume PDF contain?
Usually: Author (your real name from your Office/Adobe account), Creator (your Word/Pages/Google Docs version), Producer (the PDF library), CreationDate, ModDate, and sometimes the original file path. All of this can de-anonymize an otherwise anonymous resume.
Can recruiters see PDF metadata?
Yes — anyone with Adobe Reader can see it via File → Properties. Free online PDF metadata viewers make it trivial. Recruiters at tech companies and progressive employers (who use anonymous applications to reduce bias) often specifically check this.
Is it safe to upload my resume to an online metadata remover?
Risky. Resume metadata removers typically upload the full resume to their server, where it becomes part of their data. Several have been caught aggregating resumes into datasets sold to recruiters. Browser-based tools like PrivacyScanPDF process locally — your resume never leaves your device.
Related privacy scans
Remove Author Name From an Academic PDF (Double-Blind Review)
Double-blind peer review requires that your PDF contain no identifying information — not just in the visible text, but in the file's metadata. The Author field, Creator software, file path, and timestamps can all de-anonymize you. This tool strips every identifying field locally in your browser, so your submission is truly anonymous.
Remove Creator Metadata From a Double-Blind Review PDF
The PDF Creator field is auto-populated by whatever software generated your PDF — LaTeX, Word, Pages, Google Docs. This seemingly innocent field can reveal your institution's LaTeX template, your version of Word (identifying your employer's Office license), or your specific workflow. Strip it before double-blind submission.
Strip Metadata From Legal Contract PDFs
Legal PDFs routinely leak identifying metadata: the drafting attorney's name (Author field), the firm's Word version (Creator field), editing timestamps that can contradict a contract's stated execution date, and tracked-change history in some cases. Strip all of it locally before emailing — no upload to a third-party server means no breach of attorney-client privilege.
Remove Editing History From a Corporate PDF Before Emailing
When you export a corporate document to PDF, the file silently carries your editing history: the author's name (often their email from the corporate Office account), the editing software and version, creation and modification timestamps, and sometimes the original file path including the corporate network share name. Strip all of it before the PDF leaves your network.
Your PDF never leaves your device
Every operation runs as JavaScript in your browser tab. No upload endpoint exists. Verify it yourself in DevTools (F12 → Network).