I have a website offering free downloadable pdfs. In order to protect the images and content in the pdfs I have password protected the files in Acrobat DC, but I've recently discovered that it's possible (and very easy) to convert the protected pdfs to word documents on some online pdf converters, allowing people to extract the images and other content. I currently have the security properties configured as follows: restrict editing and printing of documentprinting allowedno changes allowedenable copying of text, images and other content is uncheckedenable text access for screen reader devices for the visuallyimpaired is checkedI have set a permissions password, and checked "encrypt all document contents except metadata" Is the problem due to allowing text access for screen reader devices? I'd really like to know if there is any way I can prevent the protection from being bypassed so easily by these online converters! Any help would be much appreciated.

Known Participant

Question

How can I prevent password protected pdfs from being converted online?

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
October 29, 2021
3 replies
804 views

I have a website offering free downloadable pdfs. In order to protect the images and content in the pdfs I have password protected the files in Acrobat DC, but I've recently discovered that it's possible (and very easy) to convert the protected pdfs to word documents on some online pdf converters, allowing people to extract the images and other content. I currently have the security properties configured as follows:

restrict editing and printing of document
printing allowed
no changes allowed
enable copying of text, images and other content is unchecked
enable text access for screen reader devices for the visually
impaired is checked
I have set a permissions password, and checked "encrypt all document contents except metadata"

Is the problem due to allowing text access for screen reader devices? I'd really like to know if there is any way I can prevent the protection from being bypassed so easily by these online converters! Any help would be much appreciated.

This topic has been closed for replies.

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

Digital signing does not stop other apps from editing. It just means that people can discover if this is the original signed file, or a modification. This is the way the online world works; if you can put it online, someone can steal it. Everyone from the smallest publisher to Disney have to face it.

S

sarahl12794970Author

Known Participant

OK, thanks for clarifying! Yes, it certainly seems it's inevitable..

Amal.

Legend

Hi there

Hope you are doing well and sorry to hear that. All Adobe products enforce the restriction set by the permission password. However, not all third party products fully support /respect these settings. Recipients using such third party products might be able to bypass these settings.

Additional information: Another way to protect the PDF file is to sign it digitally, as the file gets locked after the signature and any changes made after the signature will invalidates the signature.

Regards

Amal

S

sarahl12794970Author

Known Participant

Thanks for your help Amal. How does digital signing work exactly? The pdfs I offer on my website are printable materials for teachers to download. Would adding a digital signature to the pdfs affect users' ability to print them? Also, how would it affect pdfs with editable form fields?

gary_sc

Community Expert

Unfortunately you have discovered a big issue with PW protection: it's only good for those applications that respect such protection. Obviously the online converters do not respect that protection.

What I'd suggest is to zip the PDFs and have them accessible via a PW to unzip them. You do not state if you are on a Mac or PC but you'll find a number of sites that provide instructions on how to do this on either program.

Good luck!

S

sarahl12794970Author

Known Participant

Thanks for your reply! The problem is really that anyone who has the pdf file can bypass the protection by uploading it to an online converter, so even if I zip the pdfs and provide a password to unzip them, that person can then just upload and convert them online. It seems there's no way around it if those applications don't respect the restrictions.

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Scanning file for viruses.

This file cannot be downloaded