How do I PDF so it can be "read only"

[Caedmom]

I'm not sure why this is so difficult. I created a PDF form in Acrobat Pro, filled in some fields and now want to save it as a PDF that is not editable (read only) but can still be printed. If I go to "Protect", I cannot find a way to simply do this without creating a password or certificate, which I do not want. Why this isn't simply an option under the "save as" function is ridiculous. Am I missing something? Please help!

[try67]

There are various ways of doing it, depending on the level of security you want to have.

The easiest and most secure way is to digitally sign the file, making sure to tick the "Lock document after signing" box.

[Caedmom]

Is there a way to create a read only PDF that doesn't have my signature visible on it?

[try67]

The signature can be hidden.

Other options are to flatten the file, set the fields as read-only or protect it using a security policy.