In today’s modern digital era, we are doing most of our work on computers instead and it has almost replaced the paperwork in our offices and homes. Document sharing is a normal thing that happens in offices and companies around the world. Even end users like me and you can easily share documents thanks to the new formats i.e. PDF etc. But this has created quite many security problems. It is easy to steal sensitive information from a PDF document if proper security measures are not taken. You need to ensure that the PDF is safe before sharing it with someone. Let us take a real world scenario as an example.
Suppose you are the smartest person working for a construction company. Your company got tender for a project, and you are ordered to submit your ideas for the project in the PDF format. Because you’re the smartest person in the company, you have to make sure that no one will able to copy or steal your idea from the PDF file. For that, you have to password protect that PDF file.
First, you have to understand that you can create password protected PDF files in two ways.
User Password: Just like usual password, user password protect PDF files can be open by the password only. Means if the user doesn’t have a password for PDF, he or she will not able to see the information in that pdf.
Permission Password: This kind of protected PDF files is like an art gallery where you can see the painting but cannot touch them. Means reader can read the information on PDF but cannot copy. You can give permission according to yourself, like print out permission or copy permission.
Password Protected PDFs using Preview on the Mac
Preview is the easiest way to create password protect PDF file on MAC. To do so, first, open the PDF file in the Preview. Open the File menu and click on Export or Export as PDF. Click on the Encrypt button and then Export. Now one will able to open the PDF file without the password.
Password Protected PDFs using PDFMate on the Windows
PDFMate is the free tool for Windows platform to password protect PDFs. To download the software click here. After downloading the software click on the custom setting instead of express settings on the installation page. To create password protected PDF open the PDFMate click on Add files and type the password for it. By default, the software did not allow copy editing and printing features protected PDF, but you can enable them according to your need.
Password Protected PDFs using online tools
PDFProtect.net
This online tool allows you to protect your PDF files by permission. You can disable printing and copy editing options. PDFProtect.com allow you to use industry standard encryption for PDFs like 120-bit RCA and 120-bit AES. To create protected PDFs go to the PDFProtect.com and add the PDF file. Enter your desired password and encryption standard. Click generate and save your encryption PDF file on your computer, Google Drive or Dropbox account.
CutePDF Editor
CutePDF Editor is also a good online tool that lets you create password protect PDFs. You can create Permission Password or User Password for your PDFs. To create protected PDF go to CutePDF Editor and add your PDF file. Head to the Security and enter your desired password. Grant the permission and generate your protected PDF.
