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Deaf_Guy
Deaf_Guy
Inspiring
March 23, 2017
Answered

How to override a PDF PWD that you didn't set

  • March 23, 2017
  • 3 replies
  • 1070 views

I downloaded a fill out form in PDF from a government website.  It has fillable fields but no way to add a scanned signature.  It also says SECURED when you open it up locally.

So I'm filling it out and I plan to print the signature sheet, sign it with a pen, scan it, and then with Acrobat Pro combine all of the prior pages with this newly scanned sheet to create a new PDF containing all of the pages and the scanned sign page.  The problem is when I try to combine the files in Pro, and when the SECURED file is added, it says I cannot do this because I need the password.

Yeah, but I was NEVER given the password when I downloaded it from the government website. So it looks like my plan of using Acrobat Pro to do this will not work unless there is some way I can override this password block. I've done this hundreds of times in the past so this is the first time I've ever been blocked with combining a SECURED PDF like this.

Is there any other way to get this to work? Or should I just go ahead, complete the entire PDF, print the entire document, sign the sign sheet, then rescan everything into a NEW non-secure version of the PDF?

Any help is appreciated.  Thanks.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer try67

    There's nothing you can do about it. The authors of the form obviously didn't want you to edit it in the way you're trying to edit it, so they applied a security policy that prevents you from doing so. However, you might still be able to digitally sign it, instead of printing it out, signing it by hand, scanning it back it, etc.

    3 replies

    Deaf_Guy
    Deaf_GuyAuthor
    Inspiring
    March 23, 2017

    OK weirdly the form is no longer available where I downloaded it yesterday but here is the link:

    www.opm.gov/Forms/pdf_fill/SF86_July2008.pdf

    You'll probably get an error message from above.

    They gave me a paper copy of it so it HAS to be July 2008 no questions.  That's the e-form version I've been filling out.

    You may be incorrect about the e file because they gave me two live persons' email addresses to send the e-files to them vs this being done with robots.  They also said I MUST sign the form in ink so an electronic signature will not work.  They also said that when they get the e forms they then FAX the papers to the gov and told me do NOT staple the papers together (even though you cannot staple e-pages - LOL).

    T
    Test Screen Name
    Legend
    March 23, 2017

    You cannot combine files with security. And passwords wouldn't be much good if we could say "that's ok, just do this and it will be removed". The Goverment set the password, they may not like you hacking their files.

    But here's a key thing. Is this a form you can fill in, then you send it back to the government electronically? If so DO NOT DO WHAT YOU PROPOSE. Filled in forms are handled by robots, not humans. The form will no longer be processable by the government. You must somehow work within the limits of a fill in form, inventive solutions can have serious consequences.

    Maybe they want a digital signature. If you'd like a more informed view, please post a link to the file.

    try67
    Community Expert
    try67Community ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    March 23, 2017

    There's nothing you can do about it. The authors of the form obviously didn't want you to edit it in the way you're trying to edit it, so they applied a security policy that prevents you from doing so. However, you might still be able to digitally sign it, instead of printing it out, signing it by hand, scanning it back it, etc.

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