Privacy and security tools in LibreOffice Writer
Protected Text
© Lead Image © Sergey Nivens, 123RF.com
Scattered in LibreOffice Writer's menus are a surprising number of tools to keep your documents safe.
LibreOffice Writer does not have a privacy and security menu, so you might assume that it lacks such tools. The truth is, it has several of them, but they are scattered throughout the menus in a way that is easy to miss. Moreover, many can be implemented in more than one way and include different levels of protection. Most of these tools are for watermarks and passwords, but there are also tools for redaction, digital signatures, macros, and daily use.
Watermarks
Watermarks are words or images in the background of a page. They are often used on art images to discourage unwanted copying, although they are also used internally in organizations to clearly mark draft documents to avoid confusion and to trace the source of leaked documents. Do-it-yourself watermarks can be made using Writer's Drawing toolbar and adjusting an image's line and area so it becomes faint, or even invisible. Both are a popular way of either destroying a document's usefulness in AI training or hiding proof of ownership that AI will copy unaware. Alternatively, a character or paragraph style's color and transparency can be adjusted. If a text-only watermark is all that's required, it can quickly be made and positioned via Format | Watermark (Figure 1). However the watermark is created, it can be placed on a page style to be used automatically. Placing it in a header or foot can make it especially inconspicuous.
Figure 1: Watermarks are a convenient way to prove ownership or status of a document.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Digital Autonomy
• How the Fediverse Found Parts for Its Platforms
• The Answer Was Already on the Shelf
• Changing the Chip Industry: How Public Investment Has Grown Open Silicon
• United Nations Open Source Portal Goes Live
• EU Open Source Strategy Plays Key Role in Tech Sovereignty Package
• France Says “Au Revoir” to Microsoft
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
PwnEscape Poses VM Vulnerability
A guest-to-host escape flaw in Linux KVM, named PwnEscape, might be yet another means of attacking Linux.
-
Linux Mint 27 Set for a Christmas Release
The developers behind Linux Mint have announced a Christmas release, and it looks like Santa's sack will be brimming with features.
-
Is Linus Torvalds Vibe Coding?
The creator of Linux has added AI into his process for Linux kernel development, and it's more than just for debugging.
-
openKylin 3.0 Released with Expanded AI Integration
The latest release features a pre-installed AI agent to help perform tasks.
-
DigitalOcean Ends Open Source Credits Program
In a change that has surprised many open source developers, DigitalOcean has decided to sunset its Open Source Credits Program.
-
Office 365 Available for Testing on Linux via Bottles
Linux users can now test the official Office 365, thanks to Mirko Brombin's work on Bottles.
-
Dutch Government Turns to Open Source for Digital Sovereignty
Following in the footsteps of other European countries, the Netherlands is looking to increase its sovereign digital infrastructure with open source software.
-
Linux May Soon Work on Snapdragon X2-Based PCs
If you're thinking about buying a Snapdragon X2-based desktop or laptop, Linux may soon be an option.
-
KDE for People Initiative Calls for AI Ban in Plasma
A new community of KDE wants the project to adopt a strict no-AI policy for KDE Plasma.
-
KDE Sets Ambitious Goals for 2026 and Beyond
KDE Connect reveals the goals for the Linux desktop darling, with one of those goals long overdue.