A Simple Checklist to Run Before You Share Any Document

Most accidental leaks do not involve hackers. They happen because a document contained something the author forgot about. Two minutes of checking prevents most of them.

Check the content

1. Accept or reject tracked changes and delete comments you do not want the recipient to read.
2. Look for hidden text, rows and sheets, especially in spreadsheets and presentations.
3. Remove personal metadata such as author names and file paths using your editor's Inspect document feature.

Redact properly

Drawing a black rectangle over text does not remove the text underneath. Use a real redaction tool that deletes the underlying content, then confirm by trying to select or search the text.

Choose the right sharing settings

• Expiry: pick the shortest time that works for your recipient.
• Download limit: use a low limit when the file is for one or two people.
• View-only: useful for drafts, but remember it only discourages saving; screenshots are still possible.
• Scheduled publishing: release the link at a specific time, for example for an announcement.

After you share

1. Send the link through a trusted channel.
2. Keep a record of what you shared and when.
3. If you added a management login, check the analytics to confirm the document was opened.

Ready to share? Upload your document and set the limits in a few clicks.