For example, it has a powerful search engine to find documents, emails, keywords, dates, and more. It has a suite of tools to help you review your files and produce them. And that’s the other advantage of GoldFynch. For example, redacting formulas in a native spreadsheet will affect numbers in other columns/pages.)īut the main advantage of using software like GoldFynch is that you also get a suite of essential eDiscovery tools.įor eDiscovery, you’ll want to do more than just redact text. (Note: Avoid redacting native files when possible as this can cause problems. So, you’ll have the originals (and their metadata) if needed. GoldFynch converts native files to PDFs and TIFFs before redacting them. But they turn opaque (and the underlying text gets permanently removed) when you finalize a production. In ‘preview’ mode, redaction boxes will be translucent so you can read the underlying text. Plus, you’ll be able to remove multiple redactions simultaneously. And the list will let you move directly from redaction to redaction without having to scroll through the pages in-between. A redaction manager to give you an overview: You’ll be able to skim through a list of your redactions, each with a helpful summary.And you’ll be able to auto-redact entire pages by specifying a page range. You’ll click-and-drag little black boxes over privileged information. And the best vendors offer free trial cases that you can use indefinitely. The beauty of Cloud eDiscovery is that you can access the software via your web browser, without having to download anything. Here’s where Cloud eDiscovery software like GoldFynch can help, because you’ll get professional-level redaction, for free. And this is especially true when you need the files for eDiscovery, where you’ll want to do more than just redact data. (The advantage here is that by printing it out, you’re stripping the document of all its original metadata.) But these kinds of fixes aren’t as convenient (or thorough) as using software that can redact files professionally. And then there’s the option of printing out a document, redacting its text with a Sharpie, and then scanning this redacted version to make it electronic again. For example, Adobe Acrobat has a built-in redaction tool for PDFs. If you want to redact a few documents, there are cost-effective ways to do it. There are affordable and relatively-secure ways of redacting electronic data. So, an expert could peel away superficial redactions and get at the underlying metadata you missed. The thing about metadata is that you won’t find it unless you know where to look. For emails, metadata might include the sender’s address, when the email was sent, and the route it took to get to your inbox. For example, Microsoft Word will record things like when the document was created, the username of the person who created it, and where it’s being stored. When you create a document, the application it uses will record information about it. Something called metadata – a file’s digital footprint. The biggest giveaway is a file’s metadata.Įlectronic files come with something paper files don’t. But you’d lose this camouflage if someone changes the text’s color back to black.) Secrets get revealed by more than just text color, though. (A cruder version of this is to change the text’s color to white – so it disappears against its white background. But that’s the mistake Manafort’s team made, and the media made them pay for it. For example, you could use the black highlighter tool in Word as a virtual sharpie to cover sensitive information. But this idea of blacking-out text doesn’t necessarily work with electronically stored information. You’d just draw a line through privileged text using a black Sharpie. So, how was this discovered? The media simply copy-pasted the PDF’s text into another document, and the black ‘redaction’ boxes disappeared in the transfer! But why all the confusion? Well, it’s because traditional redaction strategies don’t work in a digital world.ĭiscovery used to mean working with paper files where redaction was simple. Their redaction error revealed facts about Manafort’s connection with his former business partner – specifically, details about a meeting they had and the topics they discussed. The most famous example of this was when lawyers for Paul Manafort (former Trump campaign chair) didn’t properly redact pleadings they’d filed. Redacting privileged information is tricky because you can’t afford to make mistakes.ĮDiscovery redaction seems simple enough, but it often isn’t. (Note: You can use this case indefinitely.) And if you’d like to upgrade to a larger case, you can do so in seconds for as little as $25 a month. For example, eDiscovery software ‘GoldFynch’ offers a fully-functional redaction tool with its free 512 MB trial case. Takeaway: Use Cloud-based eDiscovery applications to redact your files for free.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |