In September 2026, IDScan confirmed a breach that exposed over 150 million driver's licenses. Revolut lost customer passports and transaction histories to attackers who used fake government requests. In both cases, personal documents were shared with a service that couldn't fully protect them. You can't always control what happens after you share a file, but you can control what is inside it before you do.
How to do it
Identify which pages contain sensitive information
Open the PDF and note the page numbers that contain information you do not need to share. Common examples include signature pages with your full address, cover sheets with account numbers, or appendices with supporting ID documents.
Upload the PDF and select pages to remove
Use the Delete Pages tool, upload your file, and enter the page numbers you want to remove. You are telling the tool which pages to keep, so make sure you only keep the pages your recipient actually needs.
Download and verify the cleaned file
Download the result and scroll through it before sending. Confirm that no sensitive pages remain and that the document still reads correctly without the removed sections.
Why data breaches make document hygiene more important
The IDScan breach in 2026 showed that even purpose-built identity platforms can be compromised. When 150 million records are exposed, the damage comes from the fact that complete documents were stored and accessible. Sharing only what is necessary limits your exposure even when a third party is breached.
Common documents that need pages removed before sharing
Tax returns often include pages with dependent Social Security numbers that are not relevant to a mortgage lender. Medical records include full history when a referee only needs a specific page. Contracts include pricing schedules that should not go to every recipient. Removing irrelevant pages is basic document hygiene.
The difference between deleting pages and redacting text
Deleting a page removes it entirely from the document. Redacting covers specific text or images on a page but leaves the page in place. For cases where you need to keep a page but hide certain fields, redaction is the right approach. For cases where an entire page is unnecessary, deletion is faster and cleaner.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to upload documents containing personal information to an online PDF tool?
Use tools that process files without storing them and that are clear about their privacy practices. PageShift processes files for conversion and does not retain your documents after the job is complete.
Can I recover pages I accidentally deleted?
Download the result before closing the original. If you still have the original file, you can re-run the process with the correct page selection.
Does removing pages change the formatting of the remaining pages?
No. Deleting pages removes them cleanly. The remaining pages keep their original formatting, numbering aside.
Sources
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