signature can be copied and pasted

[KazuTa]

I like the feature in Acrobat where I can upload a picture of my signature and use it to sign PDF forms using "Fill & Sign". However, I was extremely disturbed to discover that my signature can be copied and pasted into another program (i.e., Microsoft Word) and Saved as a Picture by anyone receiving one of my signed PDFs! This is really concerning. I am basically giving my signature away to anyone who wants to use it. 

Is there a way I can use a signature on a PDF so that it's "baked into" the page and not be a separate, copy-able layer? The only way I know is to workaround I've been able to come up with is print the form, physically sign it, scan that signed page, then insert the page into the final PDF. However, that's a lot of steps.

Please let your users know that it is very dangerous to add a signature using Fill & Sign, because anyone can copy & paste their signatures and use it for whatever purposes they see fit.

[try67]

Yes, use a digital signature field. Anything else is easily copyable.

And even with a digital signature be aware that the name (and any other details, such as email address, address, etc.) that appears on it is meaningless. The only thing that matters is that it can be validated against a public key provided by you. I can easily sign using your name, but I can't fake your private key to validate my signature as if it was yours.

[KazuTa]

When you say, "use a digital signature field", what do you mean?

[try67]

In Acrobat go to Tools - Prepare Form and one of the options is to add a new Signature field, which looks like this:

Use this tool to place the field on the page, and then you would be able to digitally sign the file by simply clicking this field.

[KazuTa]

The very problematic problem is that the signature can be copied & pasted as well as Saved as a Picture. So, if it looks anything like my real signature, someone can copy & paste it onto any legal document and forge my signature.

[try67]

Correct. There's no way around that. Someone can also take a picture or scan your hand-written signature, though, so it's no different.

[sharlenep69799106]

Hi! I agree with you! I only found out today and am extremely upset with this. This is a security risk. There is a workaround. Print your PDF using "Microsoft to PDF." Your signature will no longer be copied. I hope this helps. I hope that Adobe fixes this issue. 

[KazuTa]

That sounds like an intriguing workaround. However, I don't see the option in my Acrobat. I'm on a Mac. When I choose the Print option, these are the only options I see:

[try67]

This does not prevent copying.

[SiDawg101]

It's not really adding a security risk: just making an existing one a little easier. Drawn signature (via pre saved image, new drawn image, or physical pan) are completely worthless and insecure. They have no value to begin with, precisely for the concern you raised: they can be easily copied. Your workaround doesn't really improve anything: nothing's stopping anyone from taking a screenshot of your signature and pasting it wherever they like, just like no one can stop people copying your physical signature, or scanning your physical signature etc... The only value in a signature is if it's signed Infront of someone: even then it's not the testimony of the official that has any value: it's a trust relationship. The official trusts you are who you say you are, and the people receiving the document trust the official can be relied on.... That's how "proper" digital signatures work: there's a public key with a trusted authority such as docusign, docusign validate you are who you say you are, and other parties trust docusign is a valid certificate authority...

[SiDawg101]

I mean "it's the testimony" not "it's not the testimony" argh no edit ability lol