Unredaction Isn't Hacking

Unredaction Isn't Hacking

Errata Security (Robert Graham)
Errata Security (Robert Graham)Dec 24, 2025

Summary

The episode explains that the so‑called "unredaction" of Jeffrey Epstein files isn’t a hack but a failure of proper redaction: the FBI merely overlaid black bars or highlights, leaving the underlying text intact and selectable. By demonstrating how text can be revealed in word processors and PDFs simply by copying or changing highlight colors, the host shows that true redaction must permanently remove the text. The key takeaway is that anyone viewing such documents should test for actual redaction by selecting and copying the text, highlighting a broader issue of careless document handling by authorities.

Unredaction isn't hacking

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