Participating Frequently

Question

Adobe password protection NOT working

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
May 6, 2018
5 replies
6585 views

I make digital products using clip and sell them online so I have always password protected my documents so that no one can copy-paste the clip art I purchased. I happened to trial this and found that even though I save the changes and follow the Adobe procedure on how to secure documents, that I can still copy-paste from my document - so the security settings that I put in place aren't working. Furthermore, when I go back in to the PDF, all of the changes I made are gone. I tested this on other people's products and can do the same - copy and paste from their password protected documents. FUNNY thing is, I had a colleague with the same Adobe software trial this and she COULD NOT do it. Any ideas? Do I have a magical version of Adobe? I'm very worried that my own work can be copied.

This topic has been closed for replies.

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

I dont think we can say you’d avoid anything. Most problems aren’t bugs in the software. But when we try to reproduce your problem it’s easier for everyone if we all have the same version.

Please don’t look for the word Secured. Please only check the actual security properties. What do you see before saving? What do you see after closing and re-opening?

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

Oh, so you're running an old version. Still supported, but not many of us are using that old version: mostly we're on subscriptions. Still, security did work.

One thing to check: set security and save TO YOUR DESKTOP. Close, quit. Reopen the file from the desktop. DON'T USE THE RECENT FILE LIST. What do you see?

R

rebeccar82265221Author

Participating Frequently

Well it doesn't say SECURED, which in the past in would. So because I bought the one-off version, the smart thing to do would be pay a monthly subscription and potentially avoid all of this?

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

Hmm. Also, please try this to double check the software.

Immediately after you see the security has not changed, without switching app...

Windows: Go Help > About Acrobat or About Acrobat Reader

Mac: Go Acrobat > About Acrobat or About Acrobat Reader

Please tell us the exact version shown (e.g. 2016.124.13434) and which Acrobat product it shows.

R

rebeccar82265221Author

Participating Frequently

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

There is no option to upload a PDF. You would need to share it on your own site or a file sharing site and upload a link.

Protecting your work is impossible. Only token inconveniences.

What I'm most interested in is your statement "when I go back in to the PDF, all of the changes I made are gone". Please give more details on this, it might uncover more.

R

rebeccar82265221Author

Participating Frequently

Yes, so I save and review the security options. It shows me what is 'allowed' - e.g. printing, and what is 'not allowed' - e.g.copying content.

So then I press 'save'. Close the file, reopen the file and review the changes and when I click on the security settings it hasn't applied.

This error is only recent. I always double check my work to make sure that people can't right-click copy, and now all these little glitches are happening that I cannot explain.

I do have samples on a website (Teachers Pay Teachers), but you'd have to log in and create a username.

try67

Community Expert

After applying the password, did you make sure to save the file, close it

and then re-open it?

Also, you should be aware that such security is easily overcome. Do NOT

count on it to protect your work.

R

rebeccar82265221Author

Participating Frequently

Yes I did follow that procedure. I've been using the same method for 2 years now and in the past when I re-opened the file and tried to edit or copy-paste it pops up to try the password, but now that isn't the case anymore and it seems that any document I open isn't secure for ME, but it is for other people????

Bernd Alheit

Community Expert

Don't open the file in Apple Preview.

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