Clear Metadata from PDFs to be shared publicly

📌 Purpose

• The risk is that PDFs by default contain identifying information about the author, job positions, email addresses, or other private details about processes or computers used for authoring. 
• Best practice is to clear this data when releasing documents for public use. 
• This KB outlines the steps needed to properly remove sensitive metadata from PDF files that will be linked to publicly. (for example hosted on our website)

👥 Audience

• Faculty / Staff

🖥️ Applies To

• Adobe Acrobat

🛠️ Instructions

1. Open the PDF to redact in Adobe
2. Select All Tools from the main menu, followed by Redact a PDF.
3. Select Sanitize Document.
4. Select the Selectively Remove button.
5. Select at minimum "Metadata" and optionally select other fields. 
6. Save the PDF and then upload for public use.