In recent years, anonymization tools have become increasingly “intelligent” — yet, paradoxically, less practical. Many of them are built around technology first, not the people who actually use it. And that’s a problem, especially when dealing with something as sensitive as personal data.
Most anonymization programs on the market rely on two main approaches:
Keyword-based detection – fast, but superficial. These tools search for words that look like personal data, but don’t understand context. The result? Missed information and costly errors.
Large Language Models (LLMs) – advanced, but resource-intensive. They attempt to interpret context, but require massive computing power and often process data in the cloud. They can reduce false positives but introduce new problems: delays, unpredictable results, and potential compliance risks.
As a result, users are often left unsure whether all personal data has actually been removed, and the anonymization process takes too long to be practical for everyday work.
Anonymization isn’t an abstract R&D task. It’s a daily routine for offices, law firms, and public institutions that handle documents for publication or disclosure. These users don’t need complex systems — they need a tool that simply works, reliably, quickly, and locally.
They don’t want to “train” a model. They want control, predictability, and certainty that the data they handle remains protected.
At Mycroft Solutions, we decided to take a different approach. Instead of chasing the “wow effect” of large language models, we focused on what actually matters for users: simplicity, speed, and security.
That’s why Mycroft Sweeper uses Bayesian networks – a different kind of artificial intelligence based on probabilistic logic and dependencies between data. This allows the system to analyze documents instantly, with results that are logical, repeatable, and consistent — without the random errors typical of LLMs.
Mycroft Sweeper is a desktop application that runs directly on the user’s device. It doesn’t require cloud access, data uploads, or external servers. All analysis happens where the document resides – locally, securely, and entirely under the user’s control.
In practice, this means:
A truly effective anonymization tool should offer more than just technology. It should make work faster, reduce human error, and give users confidence that their data is handled safely and correctly.
That’s exactly why Mycroft Sweeper combines AI with human control – rather than replacing it.
Intuitive. Fast. Reliable.
