FAQ
Secure printing questions answered
Everything you need to know about how PrintGuard protects your documents, how the print code workflow works, and why browser-side encryption matters.
What PrintGuard protects
PrintGuard is designed for documents that must remain confidential. This includes passports, bank statements, contracts, healthcare records, legal briefs, and other sensitive files. The key idea is that the document is encrypted before it leaves your device, so no one else can read it.
- Encryption occurs locally in your browser with AES-256-GCM.
- The server only receives encrypted ciphertext, never the raw file.
- The print shop decrypts the file only after you provide the passphrase.
- Files are deleted immediately after printing or after one hour.
How the code and passphrase workflow works
After you upload an encrypted file, PrintGuard gives you a job code. Share this code with the print shop verbally or by showing it on your screen. Then separately provide the passphrase. The job code and passphrase are never combined in a way that leaves the document unprotected.
This separation means the shop can fetch the encrypted file and decrypt it only with the passphrase you choose. Without the passphrase, the encrypted file is useless.
This workflow is intentionally designed so that even if the shop's computer is compromised, attackers still cannot recover your document without the passphrase.
Common user questions
Can I use PrintGuard for any file type?
Yes. PrintGuard supports PDF and standard image files such as JPG, PNG, and TIFF. These formats are commonly used for identity documents, statements, and receipts.
Do I need to trust the print shop?
While PrintGuard protects the file contents, you still need to choose a shop that follows good printing practices. Ideally, use a shop that agrees to delete temporary files immediately and does not keep copies of uploaded work.
What if printing fails?
If printing does not complete, the encrypted file is deleted automatically after one hour. You can upload again and try a fresh secure print job.
Why browser-side encryption matters
Browser-side encryption means the plaintext version of your document never leaves your device. The only data sent to the server is encrypted ciphertext. This is stronger than relying on server-side protection alone.
Even if an attacker were to access server storage or intercept network traffic, they would only see encrypted data that cannot be decrypted without your passphrase.
FAQ summary
- PrintGuard protects sensitive files by encrypting them in the browser.
- No account or personal data is required to use the service.
- The print shop never receives the document in plaintext.
- Lost passphrases cannot be recovered, so keep yours safe.
- Encrypted files are deleted after printing or automatically after one hour.