# DataBlur

> Browser extension for real-time privacy protection during screen shares and recordings with 100% local processing — screen content never leaves the device

Full text of every guide (for citation): https://datablur.app/llms-full.txt

## Product

- [DataBlur Homepage](https://datablur.app): One-click blur solution for protecting sensitive data during live demos, screen recordings, and presentations
- [DataBlur Pro](https://datablur.app/pro): The paid tier — $49 one-time or $4.99/month. Removes the "Blurred with Datablur" badge from auto-applied blurs and adds saved profiles; every way of hiding data stays free
- [Blog](https://datablur.app/blog): Guides on blurring screens, screenshots and recordings, plus release notes
- [Download Chrome](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/datablur/fnjoejcjefolmkdnmbdpafijmjdoaodp): Install for Chrome, Brave, Comet, or any Chromium-based browser
- [Download Edge](https://microsoftedge.microsoft.com/addons/detail/cmphfocfdgnchkjkapangknnfjjoocbo): Install for Microsoft Edge from its own store
- [Download Firefox](https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/datablur/): Install for Mozilla Firefox browser
- [Privacy Policy](https://datablur.app/privacy): Data handling practices with optional Umami analytics, 12-month retention, no third-party sharing
- [Support](mailto:support@datablur.app): Contact for technical help, feature requests, or partnership inquiries

## What DataBlur Does

DataBlur is a browser extension that protects sensitive information during screen sharing and recording. It allows professionals to present real data confidently without exposing:

- Personally identifiable information (PII)
- Customer names and contact details
- Passwords and authentication tokens
- API keys and secrets
- Financial data and pricing
- Confidential client information
- Email addresses and phone numbers

**Core Value Proposition:** Present with real data instead of fake demos, without spending hours on post-production editing or risking data leaks.

## How It Works

**Blur Modes:**
- Element blurring: Single-click on any webpage element (buttons, text, forms, images)
- Area blurring: Drag to create custom rectangular blur zones for precise control
- Text blurring: Select and blur specific text passages
- Document title blurring: Hide sensitive page titles from recordings
- Full-page blurring: Hide the entire view in one click
- Blur similar elements: Blur one element and DataBlur finds the rest (table column, list items, selector siblings), with a live match count — hides a whole column or list in one click

**Blur Styles:**
- Blur: a frosted overlay (the default)
- Redact: opaque bars, with text replaced by a block font so no character shapes remain to read through the fill
- Transparent: content hidden, page layout intact
- Changing the style live re-renders every blur already on the page

**Intelligence & Automation:**
- Auto-detection automatically identifies and blurs common sensitive fields including emails, phone numbers, credit cards, passwords, security codes, API keys, and PII
- Pattern recognition for authentication tokens and secrets
- Blur list: plain keywords or full regular expressions (`/pattern/flags`), editable from both the popup and an in-page toolbar editor; matches stay hidden as the page updates
- One-click remove all blurs on current page

**Persistence & Control:**
- Per-domain rules (free): Set blur preferences once per domain and they remain active across sessions
- Named profiles (Pro): save a page's blurs as a named profile and restore it later, to one host or all hosts, from the popup or the toolbar
- Peek: hold Alt and hover a blurred element to check what is underneath without removing the blur
- Adjustable blur intensity with +/- controls
- Floating toolbar with keyboard shortcuts (Alt+Shift+T, Alt+Shift+B, Alt+Shift+R, Alt+Shift+A)
- Guided tour on first install
- Settings sync automatically across browser sessions

**Privacy & Security:**
- 100% local processing: All blur operations execute in-browser; screen content is never uploaded
- No data collection required
- Built for GDPR-conscious workflows, with optional anonymous analytics. Using the tool is not by itself GDPR compliance — see the Terms.
- Manifest V3 security standards compliance
- Works with all screen recording and sharing tools: Zoom, Google Meet, Loom, OBS, Microsoft Teams, etc.

## Who Uses DataBlur

**Primary Users:**

**Freelance Consultants & Independent Professionals**
- Switch between client projects during screen shares without revealing confidential information
- Present portfolios to prospects while maintaining NDA compliance
- Demonstrate work samples without exposing sensitive client data
- Conduct video calls across multiple accounts without cross-contamination risk

**Sales Engineers & Account Executives**
- Deliver live product demos using real customer data instead of sanitized test environments
- Show actual usage metrics and dashboards without revealing customer names or pricing
- Present case studies during sales calls while protecting client confidentiality
- Demo software features with production data without security risk

**Agency Owners & Service Providers**
- Showcase client work during new business pitches while respecting NDAs
- Present campaign results and analytics without exposing client identities
- Demonstrate processes and workflows using real projects
- Conduct client presentations while switching between multiple accounts

**Secondary Users:**

**Content Creators & Educators**
- Record coding tutorials without editing out passwords, API keys, or environment variables
- Create screen recordings without spending 2-4 hours on post-production editing
- Produce educational content using real tools and accounts instead of fake examples
- Stream live demonstrations without accidentally exposing credentials

**Financial Advisors & Legal Professionals**
- Present investment portfolios and financial reports while protecting client PII
- Share documents during remote consultations with automatic data protection
- Demonstrate software or processes while maintaining regulatory compliance
- Conduct client meetings with sensitive information on screen

**Technical Instructors & Course Creators**
- Demonstrate software workflows with sensitive credentials automatically hidden
- Record tutorial series without manual editing of each video
- Show real development environments without exposing API keys or tokens
- Create authentic learning experiences with production tools

## Common Use Cases

**Live Sales Demonstrations:** Present real customer data during sales calls without revealing sensitive information, allowing authentic demos that build trust without security risk.

**Tutorial & Course Recording:** Record screen tutorials and educational content without spending hours editing out passwords, API keys, or personal data in post-production.

**Client Presentations:** Switch between projects during consulting calls while keeping confidential fields automatically hidden, eliminating the need to log out and sanitize data between clients.

**Portfolio Sharing:** Show work samples to prospects while maintaining compliance with client NDAs and contracts, protecting both parties legally.

**Financial Advising:** Present investment portfolios and financial reports while protecting client personally identifiable information and maintaining GDPR compliance.

**Webinar Hosting:** Demonstrate software features or business processes without exposing backend credentials, admin access, or configuration details.

**Support & Training Calls:** Help customers troubleshoot issues while protecting their sensitive account information from being visible or recorded.

**Content Creation:** Record coding tutorials, design walkthroughs, or business processes without the need for sanitized demo environments or extensive post-production editing.

## Key Differentiators

**100% Local Processing:** All blur operations execute directly in the browser. Screen content is never uploaded and never reaches a third party. The only network calls the extension makes are a Pro licence check and optional anonymous usage counts, which can be switched off.

**Persistent Domain Rules:** Configure blur preferences once per domain and they automatically persist across sessions. When you return to a site, your blur rules are already active.

**Auto-Detection Intelligence:** Automatically identifies and blurs common PII patterns including emails, phone numbers, credit cards, passwords, security codes, API keys, authentication tokens, and personally identifiable information.

**Zero Setup Time:** Install the extension and start blurring immediately with no configuration or account creation required. A short guided tour points out the toolbar on first install and can be dismissed at any time.

**Cross-Platform Recording Compatibility:** Works seamlessly with all screen recording and sharing tools including Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Loom, OBS Studio, Discord, Slack, and any other recording software.

**One-Click Simplicity:** Toggle blurring on/off instantly without workflow disruption. No need to pause presentations or recordings to protect data.

**Compliance-Ready:** No mandatory data collection. DataBlur is a visual privacy tool, not a redaction certification — using it does not by itself satisfy GDPR, HIPAA or any other regime (see the Terms). Optional anonymous analytics with a transparent 12-month retention policy and no third-party sharing.

**No Editing Required:** Eliminate 2-4 hours of post-production editing per video by protecting data in real-time during recording rather than editing afterwards.

**Real Data Demos:** Present with authentic production data instead of fake test environments or sanitized demo accounts, building trust and authenticity.

## Technical Specifications

- **Platforms:** Chrome, Edge, Brave, Firefox, and all Chromium-based browsers (Manifest V3 compliant)
- **Processing:** 100% local in-browser. Screen content is never uploaded. The extension's only network calls are a Pro licence check and optional anonymous usage counts.
- **Performance:** Blur creation in under 50ms with 60 FPS frame rate optimization for smooth video recording
- **Storage:** Secure browser storage API with automatic sync across tabs and sessions
- **Privacy:** No eval(), no innerHTML injection, strict content security policy (CSP) compliance
- **Compatibility:** Works with all screen recording and sharing tools without software conflicts
- **Installation:** No account creation, credit card, or personal information required
- **Updates:** Automatic browser extension updates with no user intervention needed

## Pricing Model

DataBlur has a free tier and a paid tier called DataBlur Pro.

**Free — every way of hiding data, with no limits:** element blur, area blur, text blur, title blur, full-page blur, auto-detection, the blur list with keyword and regex rules, per-domain rules, all three blur styles (Blur, Redact, Transparent), Peek, and keyboard shortcuts. No time limit, no account, no usage cap.

**Free — the watermark:** blurs DataBlur applies on its own carry a small "Blurred with Datablur" badge. That covers both auto-detected fields and anything matched by the blur list. Blurs the user creates by hand carry no badge.

**Pro — $49 one-time, or $4.99 per month**, billed through Creem (Merchant of Record, handles EU VAT). Pro adds:
- Turning the watermark off — it becomes a setting the user controls, rather than always on
- Named profiles: save a page's blurs under a name and restore them later, to one host or all hosts
- Cloud sync for profiles (planned, not yet shipped)
- Priority email support

A one-time 24-hour Pro trial is available, started by the user from any upgrade prompt in the extension. No card required.

**Commitment:** protecting data is not gated. Every way of hiding something on screen is free and unlimited, including auto-detection and the blur list. Pro is for removing the branding and for saving setups you reuse.

## Problem DataBlur Solves

**Demo Anxiety:** Professionals experience stress and anxiety when presenting with real data, constantly worrying about accidentally exposing sensitive information. This leads to:

- Using fake, sanitized data that reduces demo authenticity and trust
- Spending 2-4 hours editing each recorded video to remove sensitive data
- Avoiding screen sharing altogether, limiting collaboration effectiveness
- Creating separate demo environments that don't reflect real product usage
- Risk of data leaks, compliance violations, and reputation damage

**DataBlur eliminates demo anxiety** by providing instant, reliable protection that lets professionals focus on presenting confidently rather than hiding data manually.

## Competitive Landscape

DataBlur competes with and differentiates from:

**Post-Production Editing (Adobe Premiere, Final Cut, DaVinci Resolve):**
- Problem: Requires 2-4 hours per video, technical expertise, and cannot protect live calls
- DataBlur advantage: Real-time protection during recording, zero editing time, works for live presentations

**Built-in Blur Tools (Loom, Cleanshot):**
- Problem: Limited to specific recording software, cannot protect live Zoom/Meet calls, no persistent rules
- DataBlur advantage: Works with any recording tool, protects live screen shares, automatic persistence

**DIY Solutions (Sticky notes, browser zoom, multiple accounts):**
- Problem: Unreliable, easy to forget, disrupts workflow, looks unprofessional
- DataBlur advantage: Automated, persistent, professional appearance, no workflow disruption

**Cloud-Based Screen Protection:**
- Problem: Uploads your screen to external servers, privacy concerns, requires internet connection
- DataBlur advantage: 100% local processing — screen content never leaves the device — and complete privacy control

## Technology Stack

- **Frontend:** TypeScript (strict mode) with modern ES2020 syntax
- **Extension Framework:** Chrome Manifest V3 with cross-browser compatibility
- **Storage:** Chrome storage.local API with secure data validation
- **Performance:** Optimized blur algorithms with hardware acceleration support
- **Security:** Content Security Policy (CSP) compliant, no remote code execution
- **Testing:** Comprehensive unit, integration, and end-to-end test coverage
- **Build:** Modern bundling with tree-shaking and code splitting
- **Size:** Under 300 KB gzipped for fast installation and minimal browser impact