How To Protect A PDF File In Adobe Acrobat

Approved By Anuraag Singh

Published On April 5th, 2016

Reading Time 2 Minutes Reading

PDF files are most commonly used because of security reasons which avoid misuse of important data. Normally PDF files can be restricted with a type of security which disable user to access PDF file data until security has been removed.

There are two types of security restrictions which can be applied to PDF files:

Document security (user password)
Document permissions (owner password)

Document security: Document security which is also known as user password is set in order to restrict user to open and read the PDF document. When doing this, user can employ a security process known as encryption. Whenever a document is encrypted, the entire document is scrambled and cannot be accessed without a key. In such cases the key refers to the password which is set to protect the PDF file.

Document permissions: Document permissions are also known as owner password which is provided to PDF file in order to restrict user from performing several activities such as printing, editing, copying and extracting data. If user is not having owner password of a respective PDF file; they cannot access PDF file data as the restrictions are enabled.

How To Set Passwords In Adobe Acrobat Application?

Select the “Secure” button from the Tasks menu bar and then select Encrypt with a password.
Choose the desired version of Adobe Acrobat application which is required, and then select which portion of the PDF document is to be encrypted. Click on any option which is to be used. For example select ‘Encrypt all documents’ option.
Check on ‘Document Open Password’ if you want to assign user password to PDF file. Then provide a password which will be always asked whenever a user opens that particular PDF file.
Check on ‘Document Permissions’ if you wants to set owner password to PDF file.
Click on printing allowed option which will provide you with multiple options like set printing permissions or to choose none option which enables you to print PDF file.
Next select the Changes Allowed button which allow you to set the permissions on PDF file which can be executed.
Check on desired options which you want to set on PDF files and then click on OK button.

By Nimisha Ramesh

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