How to Set Textbox Questions as Private
SurveyMars sensitive information settings let you mark Textbox questions as "Privacy." When enabled, responses to that question are stored encrypted in the database, meeting compliance and security requirements where data such as email addresses and phone numbers must not be stored in plain text.
Overview
By default, survey response data is stored in plain text. For higher security (for example, personal privacy fields), turn on "Privacy"; the system stores that question as ciphertext in the database. When you view responses in the backend, the system decrypts and displays them, so the experience stays much the same while meeting the requirement that plaintext is not kept in the database.
How to use
Supported question types: Non-quiz Single Textbox, Multiple Textbox, Matrix Text, and Table Text questions can use sensitive information; non-quiz question types in quiz surveys are also supported.
Single Textbox question: On the survey edit page, select a Textbox question, find the "Mark as Private" toggle in the question settings area (usually near validation, default value, and similar options), and turn it on to make that field encrypted.
Multiple Textbox, Matrix Text, and Table Text: In the question settings area, click "Set Row Attributes" to open the properties dialog, then turn on the "Privacy" toggle to mark that Textbox field as encrypted.
Note:
1. Turn on "Privacy" and save your survey. After that, responses to this question are stored encrypted; you can still view decrypted content when you review responses.
2. If the survey already has responses, you can still turn "Privacy" on or off later. When you turn it on, the system encrypts existing data in bulk; when you turn it off, it decrypts in bulk. Avoid toggling this option repeatedly in a short time so you do not trigger encryption and decryption jobs too often.
Limitations
Storage and display: With "Sensitive information" enabled, plaintext from respondents is encrypted before it is written to the database. On backend pages such as View/Download responses, the system decrypts and displays it for you; no extra steps are required.
Filter and lookup limits:
1. Questions marked as sensitive cannot be used as filter criteria in View/Download responses;
2. Response Inquiry cannot use sensitive questions as query conditions;
3. Process responses by conditions cannot use sensitive questions as filter criteria.
Data display and reports: Textbox questions with sensitive information do not appear on the data display; word clouds and similar elements for that question in default reports are also hidden to protect privacy.
Multi-line text: Very long text such as open feedback is not recommended for sensitive information. If you must enable it, keep answers within 800 characters or they may be truncated and not recoverable.
FAQ
Q: Which questions can use Privacy?
A: Non-quiz single Textbox, Multiple Textbox, Matrix Text, and table Textbox; non-quiz types in quiz surveys are also supported. Cascading dropdown questions do not show the Privacy setting on mobile; edit on desktop.
Q: After I enable it, can I still see this question in View/Download responses? Can I filter by it?
A: You can view that question as usual (the system shows decrypted content). You cannot use it as a filter criterion; this limitation protects the encrypted data.
Q: Can Response Inquiry use a question with Privacy as a query condition?
A: No. Response Inquiry does not support sensitive questions as query fields, so ciphertext is not used in condition matching.
Q: Can I turn "Privacy" on or off after responses exist?
A: Yes. Turning it on encrypts existing data in bulk; turning it off decrypts in bulk. Avoid toggling frequently, and very large response volumes may hit backend job performance limits.
Q: Are multi-line and feedback questions a good fit for sensitive information?
A: Generally not. If you must enable it, keep answers within 800 characters or they may be truncated and cannot be restored to plain text.
