How Does PDF Password Protection Work - Complete Guide

PDFs are becoming the universal document format for businesses or professionals. From sharing or archiving the information, PDFs are the best source among other file formats. Companies often need to distribute highly confidential PDFs, leaving them unprotected, which can widen the risk of data compromise. Here comes the need for tools like PDF Locker to secure the data. Before using such advanced software, it is equally important to understand how does PDF password protection work. This guide helps you discover the right document security for your sensitive PDF files. So, let’s dive into it.

What is Password Protected PDF File?

PDF password protection is typically considered a security feature for protecting the document. From limiting accessibility to restricting actions, PDF security covers everything that professionals crave. There are multiple modes of restrictions, such as user passwords or permission passwords. It turns PDF into a protected document, preventing direct access to the content. The purpose of these password protections is to safeguard the data from tampering, misuse, and unauthorized access. 

Below is a brief understanding of the modes of PDF password protection:

1. Open Document Password: This type of protection requires proper document credentials to open or view the data. In the absence of a password, the PDF remains inaccessible to the viewers. In this case, users need to ask for a passkey from the owner. The ideal reason for applying this protection is to prevent unauthorized users from accessing the PDF file. Additionally, it is used on confidential PDFs such as business contracts, legal data, trade secrets, etc.

2. Permission Password Protection: To make PDF read only files, an owner protection or permission password is used. This is another mode of security that restricts users from accessing the PDF for editing, content copying, printing, and more. The protection allows users to set a specific type of security. Take a look at them:

• Edit Protection: It prevents users from editing or modifying the PDF content.

• Print Security: This type of restriction blocks unauthorized viewers from printing PDF files.

• Content Copying: The copy permission limits users from content copying and repurposing. 

• Document Assembly: To make PDF document assembly not allowed, PDF protection is used to control these actions. 

Overall, these are the modes of PDF password protection. Using these document permissions, users can ensure data security and originality at once. Additionally, it limits the actions of viewers across the PDF file. Now, you might be looking for how does PDF password protection work, find it in the section below.

How Does PDF Password Protection Work? 

Previously, we have explained what is password protected PDF file. In the following section, we will explain how these PDF protections work for protecting the PDFs. Using document security, you can ensure data integrity, originality, and easy management. Here’s the complete understanding of how PDF protection works. Take a look below:

• PDF User Password:

User password or open document protection effectively works against unauthorized viewers. It helps to safeguard PDF from accessing or viewing the PDF files. Without document credentials, no one can open or access the content, making it a tamper-proof document. It is mainly applied to files like financial records, legal contracts, eBooks, etc. 

• PDF Owner Restrictions:

Unlike PDF password protection, PDF owner permissions help limit the actions. Moreover, it is highly recommended for secure sharing of a PDF document on online platforms. By applying the restrictions, document owners can control actions like editing, content copying, and more at once. Moreover, it allows users to just read, view, or access the file instead of modifying it. 

• PDF Encryption Protection:

Despite the PDF password or permissions, PDF encryption also works for protecting confidential files. Some common types of PDF encryption standards include AES 128, AES 256, and 40-bit RC4 (early security algorithms). Using these strong security standards, users can make the sensitive content unreadable or scrambled for unauthorized users.

PDF password, permissions, and even encryption work for limiting access. These protections are highly recommended for protecting the confidential data from leakage or misuse. Now, you might be seeking how to enable the PDF protection modes for securing the data. So, let’s discover the best method in the section below.

Best Software to Make PDF Password Protected

Earlier, we discussed how does PDF password protection work. If you’re looking for the best tool for protecting the PDF document, use SysTools PDF Password Locker to lock the document in batch mode. This software is Windows-oriented, mainly used on Win OS systems, including the latest versions. Using this advanced tool, you can impose different levels of PDF protection, such as password, owner permissions, and encryption protection. Additionally, it supports all versions of PDFs. 

The other prime features of this software include document protection and strong encryption security. Using this pro tool, you can enable PDF encryption like modern AES 128 and 256-bit. By imposing these protections, document owners can convert PDF content into unreadable text. 

Additionally, it allows you to custom-create strong or complex passwords in bulk mode. Despite the password, you can enable restrictions for limiting PDF access, including editing, content copying, printing, and more. Now, let’s understand how does PDF password protection work using the SysTools PDF locking tool.

How to Enable PDF Password Protection 

1. Install & open the SysTools PDF Locking tool on your system.

2. Add Files to upload the required PDF documents. 

3. Change the option to find the location of the resultant file. 

4. Use the “Apply Open PDF Password” feature to set the passkey. 

5. Now, create the password > press the Lock button to protect the PDF. 

Concluding Words

In the above guide, we have shared how does PDF password protection work. By imposing the types of PDF protection, you can secure your confidential PDFs. Using the SysTools PDF Locking tool, you can choose the right protection to safeguard the document in batch mode. Download the demo version of this pro tool for protecting PDFs from unauthorized access and actions. In this way, you can restrict PDF editing, content copying, printing, and document assembly. So, protect your PDFs now to prevent data tampering.