Are you in a public place using your
laptop? Worried about confidential information reaching the wrong eyes?
Do you work in a highly regulated industry that values privacy?
You
might need a computer privacy screen privacy filter. These are standard
pieces of equipment that fit almost any desktop monitor or laptop
screen.
Choosing the right privacy filter for a laptop
A
privacy filter for your laptop must fit properly over your screen. That
means knowing the size of your laptop screen before buying one. Look at
the specs of your laptop. Common sizes 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 inches.
These laptops are 13.3 or 13.5 inches for screens. Make sure you order
the right size.
Lenovo Privacy Filters for Laptops by 3M
Lenovo
has partnered with 3M to produce high-quality privacy filters for
laptops. They are black and filter the light from monitors as you would
expect with a viewing angle of 60 degrees. The goal is to attach to the
screen housing while sitting in front of the screen to filter the light
properly.
COMPLY Attachment for Laptop Privacy Screens
You
can buy privacy filter for a laptop that has COMPLY attachments with
it. These are attachments with strong magnets (do not worry, they do not
damage your computer) that click the privacy screen securely in place.
With just a quick click, you can go to sharing mode thanks to the sturdy
hinges on one side of the laptop privacy screen. Simply click on the
side that unattaches from the screen, swing the laptop privacy screen
over to one side, and then allow other people to see your screen at the
same time. When you’re done, swing the screen back into place with
another click to continue to assure customer privacy.
Selecting the correct privacy filter for a monitor
As
you might imagine, privacy filters for monitors are bigger than ones
for laptops because those types of computer screens are bigger. Check
your monitor specs to make sure you buy the right privacy filter for a
monitor by knowing the proper size.
Rather than attaching
to the outside edges of the monitor like you see with laptop privacy
filters, these 3M screens match up with the inside bevel (the slightly
angled edge) around the border of your desktop monitor.
Look for sizes that fit screens of 23 inches or more when investing in privacy filters for monitors.
Have a tablet computer? We make privacy filters for them, too.
You
must pick out a privacy filter specifically for a tablet computer
because these are specifically designed with touch sensitivity as well
as the ability to block the view of prying eyes. Again, measure your
tablet computer’s screen size or look at the technical specs to see
which one is right for your device. Privacy filters for tablets take
advantage of small, strong magnets to have a hinged effect when you need
to share the screen with someone else.
Who uses computer privacy screens?
Companies and home offices both use computer privacy screens in the course of daily work.
Privacy filters for business
Businesses
will use computer privacy screens to keep customer privacy,
particularly in highly regulated industries like finance, health, and
law.
Use cases for privacy filters include:
1)
Busy hospitals, dentist’s offices, or doctor’s offices that get daily
traffic. HIPAA laws mandate that patient confidentiality be protected at
all times. Privacy filters are one way to do that. For example, a
medical assistant at a doctor’s office leaves their workstation to take
care of something that suddenly came up. Meanwhile, another patient
comes up to the desk and leans on it. These pc displays still displays
private patient information, and the person looking on cannot see it
because of the privacy filter.
2) Coworking spaces for
lawyers. Various laws protect attorney-client privilege in the United
States. As such, client information cannot be shared with people who do
not have the right to that data. Attorneys in small, one-man firms may
use shared coworking spaces to have quiet places to conduct daily tasks.
Attorneys might use privacy screens for a laptop so as to not reveal
details of clients to the other lawyers in the room.
3)
Banks and other high-traffic financial institutions. Federal law
protects people’s financial information from intrusions. As such,
computer display at banks and credit unions might employ privacy filters
to keep a customer’s name, address, and account numbers away from
prying eyes.
4) Government offices. Governments also must
keep constituent privacy in the United States. Public spaces and
government offices with a high volume of in-person traffic need computer
privacy screens to keep certain information private. For example, a
public library has a computer lab with desktop computers stationed close
to each other. Privacy filters can prevent patrons from look at each
other’s personal information if they need to take care of certain tasks
like checking personal emails. Privacy screens also work well in offices
where government agencies conduct in-person interviews, like for Social
Security or food benefits.
Privacy filters for home use
Believe
it or not, home offices might need privacy screens for desktop monitors
because of young children. If a child comes into the home office and
sees something on the screen, the youngster might become curious and
start asking questions. That might interrupt a meeting or someone’s
concentration on a vital project, causing lost time.
A
home office also comes under HIPAA and other privacy laws. If someone is
working from a home office and another person sees what is on the
screen, that might be an invasion of privacy (technically).
FAQs for computer screen privacy filters
Read our answers to some often asked questions about computer screen privacy filters for your home or office equipment.
What is a computer screen privacy filter?
A
screen privacy filter fits over your computer’s visual interface to
prevent someone from glancing at your screen from an angle.
What does a computer privacy screen do?
Privacy
filters for computer screens keep what’s on the screen pointed directly
ahead, preventing people off to the side from seeing what you’re seeing
as they walk by.
Why do I need a computer privacy screen?
Computer
privacy screens prevent people from seeing your computer screen at an
angle. When looking straight on, the images are very clear and as
normal. Anyone from the side sees a blacked-out screen as if the monitor
is not there at all.
How do computer computer screen privacy filters work?
A
screen privacy filter, which is a thin piece of plastic, attaches to
the sides of your laptop screen or desktop monitor. The plastic sits
directly in front of your monitor. The plastic’s inherent properties
align in such a way that it prevents the light from escaping off to the
sides while allowing you to have a clear view looking at the screen
straight on.
Microreplication technology alters the
plastic at a microscopic level so that the particles in the plastic
filter light correctly to give you a crystal-clear view when looking
straight on, but anyone outside of a 60-degree range cannot. We’ve
designed these privacy filters for monitor with high-resolution and
today’s technological standards. Most privacy screens are so sleek,
people don’t even realize they are there.
What colors are privacy filters for computer screens?
Black
is the standard color for privacy filters for laptop or computer
screen. These models are golden for a more eye-appealing effect. Either
color does not diminish from the effectiveness of the privacy filter nor
prevent it from performing its basic function.
Lenovo’s gold privacy filters offer higher levels of privacy and protection compared to other models.
Can computer privacy filters double as screen protectors?
Yes,
they can. Privacy screen protectors can help prevent dust, scratches,
splatters, nicks, and dings on your computer screen. Look for privacy
screen protectors made of durable yet thin and slightly flexible
material when buying a privacy filter. They can absolutely protect your
computer screen from damage as well as possibly protect your eyesight.
Can a privacy filter for my computer screen block blue light?
Yes,
models of privacy screen protectors can block blue light from the
computer screen. Blue light can affect your eyesight over time, which is
why filtering blue light is important in a setting where you use a
computer or mobile device often.
How do I clean my computer privacy screen?
Clean
your computer privacy screen with a cloth that comes with the privacy
filter. Simply remove the privacy filter attached to the screen, wipe it
off with the cloth, and reattach it. No need to use water on it. Just
wipe it gently to remove any dust or dirt.
How computer privacy screens do I need?
You
need enough computer privacy screens as you need to prevent
unauthorized people from seeing private information. Look for computers
that are within public view, even from the side and even if they are
behind a counter.
Privacy filters serve dual purposes
Computer
privacy screens serve two main purposes: preventing prying eyes from
seeing personal information and protecting computer display from
collecting dust and dirt. Affordable computer privacy filters come in
all sizes, for laptops, desktops, and even tablet computers. Make sure
you measure the screens properly before you buy a privacy filter so it
fits properly. They go on easily, come off readily, and you can clean
them simply.
If you have questions, we’ve got answers.
Feel free to reach out to the team at Lenovo and we’ll be happy to
answer any inquiries you have. We can recommend you as to the right
computer privacy filter to meet your needs.
