How to secure pdf documents?

PDF security

PDF files are potentially more secure than paper documents, at least if you 

apply security to them. PDF security isn’t infallible, but it’s important for 

lawyers to know how to enable it, and to know what it can and can’t do.

 Two types of security

Acrobat allows you to lock down PDF files in two ways: (1) to prevent 

a user from opening a PDF without a “document open password,” and 

(2) to restrict what can be done to a PDF once opened, unless the user 

enters a “document permissions password.”


Why would you want to restrict PDFs in these ways? The answer no 

doubt varies from lawyer to lawyer, but here are some common scenarios.

Let’s say you want to send a confidential document to a client by 

e-mail, but you’re wary that a spouse or secretary might have access to the 

client’s e-mail program. You should enable security that prevents the PDF 

from being opened without a password; then call your client and tell him 

or her the password (and perhaps keep that password for any future PDFs 

you need to send to that client).

If you’re producing documents in PDF form to opposing counsel, you 

might want to restrict their ability to insert or remove pages.

Restrict Editing And Printing Of The Document

Restricts access to the PDF file’s security settings. If the file is opened in Adobe Acrobat, the user can view the file but must enter the specified Permissions password in order to change the file’s Security and Permissions settings. If the file is opened in Illustrator, Photoshop, or InDesign, the user must enter the Permissions password, since it is not possible to open the file in a view‑only mode.

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