To protect yourself, remove the following information from a PowerPoint presentation: File properties, such as author, manager, company, and Last saved by; information in AutoText entries; hidden slides; and hidden dates.
You can do this manually or using a utility available from Microsoft.
To manually remove the information, first choose Tools, Options, and the Security tab.
- In Privacy Options, select Remove Personal Information From File Properties On Save.
Hidden slides that do not appear in slide show mode can be viewed when you send the PPT file to someone.
To remove hidden slides, delete hidden slides just as you would delete any other slide.
- Choose View, Slide Sorter.
- Select the slide you wish to delete, and then choose Edit, Delete Slide.
Microsoft has an add-on to remove hidden data. To get it, go to the Microsoft Download Center on Microsoft.com.
You can also track any unauthorized changes made to slides you distribute by using a digital signature.
A digital signature is a secure, electronic method of authenticating a PowerPoint presentation.
People who receive a PowerPoint presentation containing a digital signature know that the presentation came directly from the signer.
While a digital signature does not stop someone from making changes, it does alert you or the recipient of the slides that changes were made.
You must create a digital certificate before you add a digital signature to your presentation.
To create a digital signature,", in Microsoft Windows XP, on the Windows Start menu, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft Office Tools, and then click Digital Certificate for VBA Projects.
- In the Create Digital Certificate dialog box, in the Your Certificate's Name box, enter a name for your Digital Certificate.
To add a digital signature to a presentation, choose Tools, Options, and the Security tab.
- Click Digital Signatures.
- In the Digital Signature dialog box, click Add.
- In the Select Certificate dialog box, select the certificate you want to use.
The Digital Signature dialog box now displays the name of the signature you have chosen.
- To add additional signatures, click Add.
- To finish adding this signature, click OK.
To remove a digital signature from a letter, choose Tools, Options, and the Security tab.
- Click Digital Signatures.
- In the Digital Signature dialog box, select the digital signature that you wish to remove and click Remove, then click OK.
Read more about using a password to protect slides or converting slides to PDF and protecting them from change, copying, and even printing by checking the related articles below.
