How To Pick a Display Privacy Filter

Working in an office can have many benefits however, something that you lack in an office is privacy. Anybody walking behind you can see what you are doing on your computer. That’s where a display privacy filter can be helpful.

Display privacy filters prevent people who are not sitting directly in front of the monitor from seeing what’s on your screen.

There are a few main factors you should consider before picking a display privacy filter:

• The dimensions
• Attachment method
• Type of protection
• Blue light protection

The rest of this article will go over each of these factors and what to look for in each of them.

Dimensions

The most important aspect of the filter that you’ll need to look at before making your purchase is the dimensions. They typically come in a few standard sizes and it’s important to pick the correct size for your computer screen. If you do not pick the correct size then it will either be too large or won’t cover the entire screen.

If you have a custom monitor or you simply cannot find the correct size on the market, you should be able to find privacy filters that are designed to be cut to the correct size. This will allow you to have a privacy filter that is perfectly fitted to your screen.

Attachment

Once you have found some display privacy filters that have the correct dimensions for your monitor, you should consider the way that they attach to the screen.

There are two ways that a privacy filter can be attached to your computer monitor, clear adhesive or sliding mount tabs.

Clear Adhesive

Clear adhesive is the best option if this is your personal computer and you don’t foresee a situation in which you’d need to remove the filter. It will last the longest and will also provide a closer fit to your screen which will improve its functionality, allowing you to the screen as best as possible while blocking everyone else’s view.

Mounting Tabs

If you are using a computer that needs to be shared or one that you often invite others over to look at, using sliding mount tabs may be a better option. Keep in mind, these only work on computer screens with a raised border. 

Mounting tabs stick to the frame around the screen and allow you to easily slide the privacy filter on and off. The downside to this is that since you are removing the screen frequently, you are more likely to accidentally damage or dirty it. You will also not be receiving the full protection that the filter could provide since it is not mounted directly against the screen. 

Horizontal vs. 360-Degree Protection

Computer display privacy filters will generally come with two different types or levels of protection, horizontal and 360 degrees.

Horizontal protection masks the screen so that it cannot be seen from the side. This is a great option if you are mainly concerned with your coworkers sitting around you and seeing your screen. However, seen from an above or below angle, your screen will not be concealed.

If you want total protection and want to minimize the angles at which you can view your screen as much as possible, you should look for a privacy filter with 360-degree protection. These filters use a slightly different technology to make it so that the only way you can view the screen is from directly in front of it.

Blue Light Protection

If you work on your computer all day long, an optional feature that you may want to consider looking for is blue light protection.

Regular display privacy filters use a technology known as micro louver technology. What this does is it goes down to the individual pixels and blocks the light from shining to the sides. This makes it so that the light from the display is only visible head-on.

To add to this light-blocking technology, some companies have added blue light blocking technology to their privacy filters. Blue light filters work by using a special coating to block light that is in the blue light range. Oftentimes, this will result in the screen having a slight yellow tinge. 

As long as you are not working in photo editing or graphic design where the color is particularly important, a blue light filter can be a great way to reduce eye strain over long periods.

Key Takeaways

Display privacy filters are helpful devices if you want to prevent other people from seeing what is on your computer screen. These filters block light from passing to the sides of your computer screen which will make the computer appear dark if not sitting directly in front of it.

The main features that you should consider before picking your privacy filter are the dimensions, type of attachment, level of protection, and whether or not it includes blue light protection.