One of the primary reasons for selecting the PDF format for your document is because you can ensure that no-one can copy or modify the contents of your document without your authorisation. Click to Convert provides quick and easy ways for you to apply security to the PDF documents created. Click to Convert also lets you block PDF capabilities like printing, and changing or extracting pages from the document. This is especially important if you are transmitting a document that contains an original signature.

How to apply security setting to your PDF documents 

When you convert a document to PDF with Click to Convert, the Publish Settings window will display (as shown below).  In the left panel under Customize Options, click Security.

You can then add a password or choose from various other options. A list of options is included below:

• Password protect to open the document
• Password protect to change the document
• Allow/disallow printing
• Allow/disallow changing
• Allow/disallow copy extraction (cut and paste)
• Allow/disallow document assembly  (prevents users from extracting pages for insertion into another document)
• Allow/disallow adding comments to the document
• Allow/disallow signing the document or filling in forms
• Encrypt the document (choose between 40 bit encryption or 128 bit encryption for added strength)

For total protection you can enable all the security features. If you are sending a form for completion, you might choose to prevent changes to the document but allow readers to complete form fields or sign the document. Once you receive the signed document you can then lock it down completely so that no changes can be made to the signed form.

How to undo the security on a PDF document

By the way, if you ever want to undo the security options, simply convert the document again, using different options. You can also make changes using the PDF Toolbox. In the example below the document is password protected for making changes, but anyone can open the document for reading, sign it or print it. If you want to remove all the security features, simply click the Remove Security button. Of course you can only remove the security features if you have the PDF toolbox application.

 A Note About Encryption:

Encrypting a document is like converting the document to a secret code. Remember when you were a kid and you made up codes, like spelling words backwards, or rewriting every word using the next letter of the alphabet? PDF Security encryption works like that. Only another PDF reader can de-encrypt the code if and only if they have the password that you have set for the PDF. This prevents your document from being illegally opened by people who don’t have your permission to read it. The good thing about that is that Acrobat Reader will honor the PDF document security protections that you have put in place.

The higher the encryption number the harder it would be for another application to break the code, so 128-bit encryption is considered stronger than 40-bit encryption. Earlier versions of Acrobat Reader can de-code the 40 bit encryption scheme. Later and current versions can de-code up to 128 bit encryption.  To be very sure that your PDF is as secure as it can be, encrypt it using 128 bit encryption, password protect it for opening and disable all change features. This means that you can only read it if you have the password and you can’t edit or extract any parts of the document. Of course you must remember to supply the password to those you want to be able to read the document.