![]() ![]() In some instances, such as transferring financial data for computer processing, encryption on its own provides all the requirements. But those who are authorized to use it can decrypt it and then do whatever they wish with it – copy it, send it to friends, edit it, print it and so on. PDF encryption prevents those who are not authorized from using the PDF document. However, as we’ll cover in the “Passwords vs Certificates” tab, password protecting a PDF in this way isn’t much better than forgoing encryption entirely. ![]() This is how solutions such as Adobe Acrobat function. So when you protect a PDF with a password, the software application encrypts the PDF using that password as your encryption key. They cannot view, modify, or convert the document without first cracking its encryption. From the perspective of somebody without the key, its contents are just a jumble or random numbers or letters. PDF encryption, uses a key to scramble the contents of the document. For PDF password protection, the password you enter is used as the encryption key, and for PDF certificate encryption your public key is used to encrypt the PDF. You can encrypt a PDF with either a password or a certificate so PDF password protection refers to encrypting a PDF with a password rather than using a certificate. They are usually one and the same, but since there is more than one way to encrypt a PDF, PDF password protection clarifies the protection method used. What is the difference between PDF Password Protection & Encryption? But if you are going to encrypt PDF files then you need to use PDF encryption software that uses a reliable encryption method. If you don’t encrypt the PDF file then anyone can read it and the value of your information is lost. You obviously don’t want to give it away! The information is valuable – you sell it – perhaps a newsletter, or an analyst’s report, or a consulting report or a periodical or a book. This could include training courses, price lists, bid documents, takeover plans, healthcare records, and so on. The information in the PDF document is confidential and only a restricted number of people should be able to see it. There are many reasons why you would want to encrypt PDF files. It does not matter what the strength of the encryption algorithm is if the implementation is not secure. PDF encryption is therefore the encryption of PDF files, the result of which is an encrypted PDF file.Įncryption keys are sometimes taken from passwords, but passwords are a poor choice for encryption keys – see PDF password protection. Encryption uses a secret key to scramble information in files so that only those with the correct key can view them. Encryption is the use of a mathematical system (algorithm) to make information secret from anyone not authorized to use it. ![]()
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