anonymization
Stripping identifying details
Anonymization is the process of removing or obscuring identifying information from data so individuals cannot be recognized.
Organizations anonymize medical records, survey responses, and user data to protect privacy while still allowing analysis: The dataset underwent anonymization before being shared with researchers.
Unlike pseudonymization, true anonymization is irreversible—the original identities cannot be recovered.
Removing identifying information
- pseudonymizationSubstituting identifiers with artificial ones
- redactionObscuring sensitive text
- maskingConcealing by covering
- obfuscationDeliberate concealment through confusion
sanitization · scrubbing · tokenization · hashing · generalization · suppression · filtering · aggregation
Converting data into code
- cybersecurityProtection of digital systems
- VPNEncrypted network connection
- SSLWeb encryption protocol
- authenticationConfirming genuine identity
firewall · compliance · audit · GDPR · HIPAA
Quality of protecting secrets
- pseudonymityState of using aliases
- untraceableImpossible to follow back
- unidentifiableCannot be determined
- incognitoWith identity concealed
concealment · non-disclosure · opt-out · secrecy · cloaking · disguise
deidentification
Removing identifying information
- pseudonymizationSubstituting identifiers with artificial ones
- redactionObscuring sensitive text
- maskingConcealing by covering
obfuscation · sanitization · scrubbing · tokenization · hashing · generalization · suppression · filtering · aggregation · blurring
encryption
Converting data into code
- cybersecurityProtection of digital systems
- VPNEncrypted network connection
- SSLWeb encryption protocol
authentication · firewall · compliance · audit · GDPR · HIPAA
confidentiality
Quality of protecting secrets
- pseudonymityState of using aliases
- untraceableImpossible to follow back
- unidentifiableCannot be determined
incognito · concealment · non-disclosure · opt-out · secrecy · cloaking · disguise
- processingprocessing, batch processing, data processing, parallel processing, real-time processing
- privacyprivacy, private, seclusion, confidentiality, solitude
- data privacydata privacy, GDPR, personal data, data protection, de-identification
- census datapopulation census, national census, census forms, census form, census report
- Data Securitydata protection, encryption key, data security, password, passwords
- privacy lawprivacy breach, data breach, data protection, personal data, consent form
anonymizationidentification
Establishing who someone is
re-identification · naming · unmasking · personalization · attribution
anonymous, antonym, pseudonym, anonym, anonymity, homonym, patronymic, anonymously, anonymized