hope this is not a too stupid question

kenny1999 · **Joined:** Dec 10, 2013 **Posts:** 106

GIMP Version: 2.8.14
Operating System: Windows
GIMP Experience: New User

a picture that contains some personal and confidential information , if I
use Guassian blur or Mosaic to hide the information.

Exporting the picture as PNG, and publishing only the PNG

Would any possibility for someone else to reverse Guassian blur or Mosaic done to the PNG and see the information??

Hope this is not a too stupid question, just to make sure something.

Odinbc · **Posted:** Sun May 01, 2016 3:22 pm **(#2)**

There is never a guarantee these methods can't be reversed.
Subject: Automated Facial and License Plate Blurring

Is it steganography you want?

z22 · **Joined:** Feb 21, 2015 **Posts:** 22

You could just cover the information with a solid rectangle of color. No way to reverse engineer from that ;^)

Ronounours · **Joined:** Jan 03, 2011 **Posts:** 1656

Blurring is an operation that can be inverted, so I wouldn't recommend it to hide information.
Swirl is not good either (if you don't know the story : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Paul_Neil)
Mosaic is probably better, but with big tiles only.
Covering the info with a rectangle is perfectly destructive, so it is probably the way to go

kenny1999 · **Joined:** Dec 10, 2013 **Posts:** 106

Ronounours wrote:

Blurring is an operation that can be inverted, so I wouldn't recommend it to hide information.
Swirl is not good either (if you don't know the story : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Paul_Neil)
Mosaic is probably better, but with big tiles only.
Covering the info with a rectangle is perfectly destructive, so it is probably the way to go

and so, just simply rectangular select the area, and then hit Delete key, should be the most destructive and irreversible right?