How to Avoid Accidentally Revealing Your Identity Through Screenshots and Videos

With the increasing use of smartphones and computers, it has become easy to share screenshots and videos online. However, there may be more to these media than meets the eye. Whether you are live streaming, screen sharing, or just posting a screenshot for some educational course, it is very easy to share information that you did not intend to share.

This sensitive information can contain multiple details such as personal data or precise geographic locations, putting your identity and safety at risk. Here’s how to hide your personal information when sharing content online. Check out the risks a content creator faces when starting their social media career.

1. Hide search suggestions and bookmarks in the browser

First and foremost, you need to hide your search suggestions and bookmarks in your browser. Have you recently searched for a local company or hospital? If someone saw that history, they might be able to find out where you live. Not to mention any embarrassing content that might appear.

Most major browsers support disabling search suggestions. Here's how to turn them off:

1. Google Chrome:Go to الإعدادات -> أنت و Google -> المزامنة وخدمات Google -> خدمات Google الأخرى Disable the toggle switch next to both Searches, Autocomplete, and URLs.
2. Safari:Click on التفضيلات -> البحث And deselect Include search engine suggestions.
3. Microsoft Edge:Go to الإعدادات -> الخصوصية والبحث والخدمات -> الخدمات -> شريط العناوين والبحث -> اقتراحات البحث وعوامل التصفية Disable the toggle next to Show suggestions from history, favorites, and other data on this device using typing characters.
4. Firefox:Click on الإعدادات -> البحث -> اقتراح البحث Uncheck Provide search suggestions, in addition to suggestions listed in the address bar — Firefox Suggest.

adviceIf you want to make sure your history doesn't appear in search suggestions, delete your search history as well.

You should also delete or hide your bookmarks before recording your screen. Most browsers allow you to hide the bookmarks bar with a simple keyboard shortcut. Here's how to hide bookmarks:

1. Google Chrome:Click the star icon on the right side of the search bar, and then click رمز التثبيت -> إظهار شريط المُفضلة And select the option to display it on never or Only in new tabs.
2. Safari: Open the Display Options panel and click Hide Favorites Bar.
3. Microsoft Edge:Click on الإعدادات -> المظهر -> تخصيص شريط الأدوات -> إظهار شريط المُفضلة And select the option to display it on never or Only in new tabs.
4. Firefox:Go to Bookmarks and click Hide bookmarks toolbar.

It’s worth noting that the bookmarks bar may still appear when you open a new tab, depending on the configurations your browser allows. If you’re concerned, you should consider manually deleting revealing or embarrassing bookmarks. Check out how to transfer bookmarks to and from all major browsers.

2. Disable taskbar notifications

If you turn on taskbar notifications for various social media or work-related websites, they may accidentally reveal more information than you want and surprise you. (This also applies to Steam notifications since you can't precisely control which games with inappropriate titles your friends choose to play or when.)

You can disable taskbar notifications on Windows by going to الإعدادات -> النظام -> الإشعارات والإجراءات And disable Get notifications from apps and other senders.

Apps that use their own notification delivery mechanisms, such as Steam and Skype, need to be disabled separately. Here's how to disable notifications for both apps:

1. Steam:Go through Steam -> الإعدادات -> الإشعارات and change the setting Show alert notifications… to never.
2. Skype:Click on الإعدادات -> الإشعارات Disable all the toggle switches in the first section, including chat notifications and notification when a contact is online.

It's a similar process for most apps, but you'll have to check them individually.

3. Separate your personal and public activities.

While disabling notifications and cleaning up your browser will help keep you safe, the best way to protect yourself is to simply separate your personal and public activities.

You can do this by creating a separate user account on Windows or macOS and connecting your browser to a separate, professional email account. Things like private notifications and awkward search suggestions are almost always tied to your OS or email account, so you can eliminate most problems at the source by simply not using them while screen sharing or streaming.

4. Block sensitive information and avoid blackouts.

It may come as a surprise, but editing content by blurring information is not safe. Many people also make the mistake of editing text using semi-transparent pen tools, and as a result, their edits can be easily reversed.

There are a few ways you can edit sensitive information from your photos, but the most reliable method involves blurring them. You can do this in any app that has a pen tool. Just make sure the tool you use is opaque (100% opacity).

To be clear, you should never try to censor information by:

1. Use the highlighter.
2. Use digital effects, such as camouflage.

Alternatively, you can use one or more of the methods below to remove personal information from your photos and videos:

1. Remove geolocation data from your photos with EXIF ​​removal app.
2. Use the opaque pen tool or insert shapes to cover personal information on photos.
3. Remove revealing elements from web pages using browser extensions like uBlock Origin.
4. Hide parts of your screen using overlays in apps like OBS.

to remember: If you share webcam footage or photos, your surroundings may also reveal personal information. For example, the position of sunlight in a photo or video can indicate the time zone you are in.

If you plan to use your webcam or share a photo, be sure to look in the background for anything you didn’t realize was there. Mirrors, scattered documents, photos, or even a glimpse of what’s outside your window can provide more information than you might expect.

5. Select specific windows when recording your screen

Finally, you should avoid sharing your entire screen whenever possible. When screen sharing, you usually have the option to share a specific window or your entire screen, and the latter option is usually not worth the risk.

Sharing your entire screen is useful when you need to view multiple applications or want to eliminate audio issues, but the downside is that anything displayed on your screen will be visible.

So, if you forget to close an app or can't get rid of all your taskbar notifications, sharing a specific app window will ensure that it's not visible to viewers.

Of course, you may not need to use all of the methods described to maintain your privacy. As long as you make an effort to hide your personal information and maintain professional habits, staying safe online is a simple feat. Read on for quick strategies to check and prevent leaks of your personal data and information.