Imagine this — you want to share a written document with your Centennial State - proletarian , but you do n’t require other people to see it . Now , what will you do ? Well , the most obvious thing would be to change that document into a PDF file and then password protect it . ripe ? So , here is some best way to password protect a PDF on a different political program .
PDF is an amazing data format for various reasons . It can hold back both image and plenteous textual matter . Also , one can not alter a PDF , without leaving a digital footprint . And the best part is , watchword protecting PDF is chopine self-governing , i.e. if you encrypt a PDF using a Windows platform , the recipient role can still decipher it on a dissimilar political platform like MAC , Android or even on electronic mail . You do n’t involve the same software on both sides .
There are two types of password protection on PDF — proprietor password and user word . The possessor watchword is needed if you need to change permit options like copying or printing a PDF . And the open watchword is used to start the PDF file .
Now , if you ask me , there is no stage of setting an proprietor password since it can be easily bypass . For example , if the user can see the written document , they can also easy replicate or publish it by call for its screenshot and using a good OCR lecturer . So , here , we ’ll focus only on exploiter watchword or the password required to spread out a PDF file . So countenance ’s get started .
Password Protect PDF
Windows
The most democratic program to encrypt PDF in Windows isAdobe Acrobat . But , if you only desire to password protect few PDF , there is no need to expend money on Adobe Acrobat . A free program likepPDFmatecan do the same thing for you .
Simply download and install this political platform like you do with any other Windows app . Then unfold the pdf in it , that you want to encrypt . Select the file > security > open password > assign a solid watchword > click work up .
macOS
Encrypting a PDF is very childlike in macOS . you may apply the make - in Preview for that . Simply launch the PDF Indian file with MAC ’s preview . press the ‘ File ’ tab on the menu ginmill and get across on ‘ Export ’ .
ascertain the box before‘Encrypt’and you ’ll see a countersign quad that pops - up right under . select an alpha - numeric password and chatter on ‘ Save ’ to keep your novel file with 128 - bit RC4 encoding . Your old file will not be move with this step and only the new filing cabinet pose the password protective cover .
It ’s foreign that Adobe Acrobat ’s Android app , do not have any alternative to protect a PDF . But you may use other innocent apps likePDF Utility . Start by downloading the app from Google Play . Next , give it > password protection > spell the PDF from your gadget memory . If you do n’t see any directory , crystalise the app data point and judge again .
Now , you ’ll see two password pick — owner password and exploiter password . As explained at the beginning of this article , the possessor password is for permission and substance abuser password is what we need to launch the document . To debar confusion enter the same parole on both and salve changes . And that ’s it .
Sadly there is no spare way to cipher PDF in iOS . And that ’s not a surprise to me ; most estimable iOS apps are paid anyway . But , if you are ready to pass some hard cash , tryPagesfrom Apple . For $ 10 you get tidy sum of option including password protect a PDF file . But if you want to do it free , then you’re able to still do it by using online armed service .
There are many on-line tools that password protect a PDF . I preferPDFprotectorfor two reasons . One they use https and second , as per their seclusion insurance policy they do not understand / store your PDF on their server
The proficient thing about these on-line service is that they are gratuitous and platform main . But as they say , there is no free lunch ; this also come with some jeopardy . Like , you are uploading your confidential data to a third company server , and if they require they can see all its content . And this why , I choose the desktop app over online instrument .
Closing words
So here we have seen different ways to encrypt a PDF single file . Though remember , PDFs are not verysecure , it ’s relatively easygoing to decrypt PDF with mere bestial military group flak , so ensure to prefer a strong countersign and not some dictionary Scripture .