Security Risks due to preventing redactions of signed documents?

Question

I recently digitally signed a document for work through Docusign, without going into details it has my social security number on it. After saving a local copy for my records, I was made aware that I cannot redact information from a signed document. What possible justification is there to preventing redaction? And if it cannot be used, why did you even add it to Acrobat?

The convoluted workaround I had to produce was exporting the entire document as a Microsoft Word doc, deleting my SS, and converting it back into a PDF. It's like banning permanent markers and crossing out words on paper, this feature is so antiquated and disconnected with reality.

try67 · Answer

The reason is that a digital signature is meant to ensure that the version you see is the same as what the person signed. Therefore, it locks the file when the signature is applied and prevents any changes to it (or at least, makes sure that any changes will invalidate the signature).

So all edits, including redacting sensitive information, must happen BEFORE you sign the file. That should be the very last step in the process, except for letting others sign it too, as-is.

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