Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method for identifying and protecting sensitive data contained in a network client's file comprising obtaining a plurality of available digital fingerprint categories from a fingerprint-evaluating server, generating said file's digital fingerprint using said plurality of said digital fingerprint categories obtained from said server, transmitting said file's digital fingerprint to said server, comparing said digital fingerprint to a plurality of digital fingerprints stored in a database, detecting whether a match between said generated digital fingerprint and at least one of said plurality of said digital fingerprints stored in said database is found, and designating said file as containing or not containing sensitive data according to established data protection policies.