how to prevent pdf files save locally or forward the to anyone

[maqsooda46488379]

how to prevent pdf files save locally or forward the document to anyone

[try67 · Accepted solution]

Not possible.

[maqsooda46488379]

Thanks.. do you know any other alternatives I should use.

[try67]

What are you trying to achieve?

[maqsooda46488379]

Need to restrict a document (available on website or send by email) to the following criteria:

1. Cannot edit the document
2. Cannot print the document
3. Cannot save locally or forward the document to anyone

I believe first 2 could be achieved with Acrobat, not sure about 3rd point, how to manage

[try67]

1+2 can be done using a security policy, although many PDF viewers will still allow it, unfortunately.

3 is impossible, as I said, because in order to view a PDF file you must first be able to download it. And once it's downloaded you can forward it to someone else and that can't be stopped. The only thing you can do is limit who is allowed to open the file, either by using a file-open password (again, quite easy to get around) or with DRM technology, which is very expensive.

[maqsooda46488379]

Need to restrict a document (available on website or send by email) to the following criteria:

1. Cannot edit the document
2. Cannot print the document
3. Cannot save locally or forward the document to anyone

I believe first 2 could be achieved with Acrobat, not sure about 3rd point, how to manage.

[try67]

You didn't answer your own question: How much does it cost?

And if you believe in this protection so much then share a sample link to such a file and let us test it for ourselves...

[try67]

OK, just for the hell of it, I did try it. For starters, I would never upload any file that I consider to be sensitive enough that I want to block access to it to an unknown server, especially not one that was registered in China (according to a WhoIs.net domain lookup I ran). You never know in whose hands (private or governmental) it will end up... And there's no contact information of any kind or any details about the owners, developers, etc. of this website. If a service is free I expect to at least know who is behind it. If not, I'm worried about their intentions, especially when they ask users to send them sensitive information.

Secondly, it took me less than 5 minutes to be able to download the original file I uploaded based on the "secure share link". Of course, the downloaded copy has no restrictions applied to it whatsoever. Anyone with a modicum of tech-savviness would be able to do the same.

In conclusion, your "protection" is worthless and your reason for offering this service is dubious, at best. Please stop spamming the forums with links to it.

[try67]

Did you even read my reply? I do not have a "new conclusion". I still think it is impossible, and your website did not prove me wrong.

[try67]

I have no idea what you're talking about...