How to Password Protect PDF
Once emailed or published online, there is always the concern that a PDF file might fall in the wrong hands. To protect your personal work or as a result of company policy on documents such as company reports or filled application forms, you will need to apply a few PDF security settings and then a simple password.
The level of password protection PDF will use depends on a few settings. By applying PDF restrictions in the form of a password and supplying it to a select few, not only can you choose exactly which users you would like to grant access to your PDF file, but you can choose what type of access they have.
To set a password using Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro:
Open your file and select the Secure icon from the toolbar.
Select Password Encryption from the Secure menu.
Check the box beside Require a Password to Open Document and type in your password.
Once you choose a password and forward it to your users, you can also limit or increase their functions by setting other PDF security settings. You can, for example, restrict options such as printing or editing. To set these permissions, choose Password Encrypt from the Secure menu.
In the Permissions section of the window, check the box beside Restrict Editing and Printing of the Document. Choose the type of printing allowed as well as the types of changes allowed.
Click on OK to activate your PDF restrictions.
