A computer implemented method for monitoring print operations and enforcing a data loss prevention policy on a computer, independently of specific applications executing on the computer that initiate print operations, and independently of a specific print interface used by the specific applications, the method comprising: monitoring for and detecting a print driver being loaded into a print spooler , further comprising using a print hook for intercepting a system function that loads print drivers into the print spooler; intercepting creation of a driver object created when the print driver is loaded into the print spooler; when the driver object creates device objects, intercepting device object print functions; monitoring attempts to send text to a printer at a print driver level, the monitored attempts being made by at least one intercepted device object function; for each specific monitored attempt to send specific text to the printer, identifying specific application level context information associated with a specific application that initiated a print operation that resulted in the specific monitored attempt; and applying a data loss prevention policy to monitored attempts to send specific text to the printer at the print driver level, the application of the data loss prevention policy to a specific monitored attempt taking into account specific identified application level context information and specific text of the specific monitored attempt, wherein applying a data loss prevention policy to monitored attempts to send specific text to the printer at the print driver level further comprises performing at least one action from a group consisting of: blocking an attempt to send content to the printer; redacting restricted content but sending non-restricted content to the printer; logging an attempt to send content to the printer; sending a notification to an administrator concerning an attempt to send content to the printer; and blocking additional operations for a user associated with an attempt to send content to the printer. monitoring for and detecting a print driver being loaded into a print spooler , further comprising using a print hook for intercepting a system function that loads print drivers into the print spooler; intercepting creation of a driver object created when the print driver is loaded into the print spooler; when the driver object creates device objects, intercepting device object print functions; monitoring attempts to send text to a printer at a print driver level, the monitored attempts being made by at least one intercepted device object function; for each specific monitored attempt to send specific text to the printer, identifying specific application level context information associated with a specific application that initiated a print operation that resulted in the specific monitored attempt; and applying a data loss prevention policy to monitored attempts to send specific text to the printer at the print driver level, the application of the data loss prevention policy to a specific monitored attempt taking into account specific identified application level context information and specific text of the specific monitored attempt, wherein applying a data loss prevention policy to monitored attempts to send specific text to the printer at the print driver level further comprises performing at least one action from a group consisting of: blocking an attempt to send content to the printer; redacting restricted content but sending non-restricted content to the printer; logging an attempt to send content to the printer; sending a notification to an administrator concerning an attempt to send content to the printer; and blocking additional operations for a user associated with an attempt to send content to the printer. <EOS>