Protected PDF

Create, Open & Print Protected PDF Files without passwords

Protect IP

Protect PDF documents without useless passwords:

Stop unauthorized access
Stop sharing and distribution
Strong US Gov strength encryption, DRM and licensing controls

Restrict Use

Set Expiry

Revoke Access

Watermark

Log Use

Comply Law

Benefits

How to create, open & print protected PDF files using Safeguard DRM Security

Regular distributors of PDF files are presented with a somewhat confusing reality. Adobe, the creator of the format, does not offer sufficient tools to protect their PDFs from misuse. Though Adobe Acrobat Pro offers some password protection, it is easily bypassed, letting malicious parties, open, share, copy, or edit sensitive and confidential business files. Safeguard PDF security addresses this failing by offering a PDF DRM solution that can stop unauthorized opening, sharing, editing, copy pasting and printing without using passwords for protection.

Create protected PDF files

To create a protected PDF document with Safeguard PDF Security, right-click on a PDF in Windows File Explorer and select ‘Make Secure PDF’.

Add DRM controls

In Safeguard Secure PDF Writer, choose your protected PDF settings:

Stop printing or limit the number of prints.
Add dynamic watermarks to viewed and or printed pages. Dynamic variables replace actual user and system data when the document is viewed/printed so you only have to protect the document once for all users.
Make the PDF expire on a specific date, after a number of views, after a number of prints, or after a number of days from opening.
Stop screen grabbing (even from remote connections).
Track and monitor PDF use – see when documents are viewed & printed, by who and when.

Once you have finished choosing your PDF protection options, press the Publish button. Safeguard will then encrypt your PDF file and add the DRM controls before saving itas a .PDC file. The .PDC format is a DRM protected PDF file which can only be opened in the a protected PDF reader (Safeguard Secure PDF Viewer).

Safeguard’s default PDF protection

Stops users editing, copying and pasting content
Locks PDF files to specific devices so they cannot be shared
Revoke PDFs at any time regardless of where they reside
There are no passwords for users to enter, share, manage, or remove

Open Protected PDF files

To open protected PDF documents, users first need to install the Safeguard Secure PDF Viewer and then activate their license by clicking on it.

The license file is automatically emailed to each user when they are added to the Safeguard Administration System.

Once a user has activated their license, they can then double-click on a protected PDF file in Windows File Explorer to view it.

See the section on viewing protected PDF files for more details.

Zero Installation Secure PDF Viewers

Users can also open protectedpdf files with our zero installation Secure PDF Viewers:

in a browser using Secure Web Viewer
on a USB stick with Safeguard Portable

Assign Access to Protected PDF files

Admins have to give users access to a protected PDF using the Safeguard Admin system. The following video explains how to do this.

Print Protected PDF files

To print protected PDFs, choose the “Print” option from the “File” menu or press the icon.

Printing protected PDFs may not be possible if the document was protected without printing enabled:

If printing has been denied, then the Print option and the Print icon will be grayed-out.
If printing is allowed, then the document may have unlimited or limited prints available depending on the settings used when the protected document was created.

The number of prints available can differ for each user for the same document as print allocations can be altered on the Safeguard Admin System after a PDF file has been protected.

Print requests can be logged so you can see who has printed a document, when this took place and from what location.

Edit Protected PDF files

Once you have protected a PDF file with Locklizard, the encrypted .pdc output cannot be edited.

The Safeguard Viewer app purposefully does not contain the functionality to edit documents, and only ever decrypts documents in memory. Those who wish to edit Locklizard PDFs will have to request the original file from the publisher.

Distribute protected PDF files

A Locklizard protected PDF file (.PDC) can be distributed just like any other file. You can upload it to a web site, file sharing site, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc. or send by email.

It does not matter who can download it or whether it is shared – because it is encrypted file it can only be opened by users with a valid license that have been authorized to view it.

Why does Locklizard use it’s own reader for opening protected PDFs?

We use our own secure PDF viewer so that we:

don’t have to update our viewer every time Adobe does an update
can prevent JavaScript from running (the number one form of malicious attack on user’s computers)
can prevent the use of plug-ins that could compromise the security of the system (plug-ins can be programmed for example to copy text or enable printing)
can control the printing process and prevent print to file or print to PDF drivers from loading
can control the use of third-party screen grabbers and screen capture tools
are not exposed to PDF security weaknesses or poor implementations in the Adobe Acrobat application

Why doesn’t Locklizard create password protected PDF files?

Locklizard uses public key technology as part of its DRM PDF protection technology. See our DRM technology.

We do not create password protected pdf files because you can easily remove password protected PDF security using a password recovery program or by using third-party applications that don’t obey the ‘rules’. This is how simple it is to edit and open a password protected PDF:

How to edit an Adobe protected PDF

A password protected PDF that has restrictions (such as printing, editing,, etc.) applied to it, can have these easily removed using a free password recovery program. You just upload the file to an online password removal tool and it will instantly remove the restrictions.

How to open an Adobe proteced PDF

A password protected PDF secured with an owner password (used to open the PDF file) can have its protection removed using a brute force/dictionary password cracker such as Elcomsoft PDF Password Recovery. This product will even remove the JavaScript protection used by some protected PDF security products.

The real problem, however, is that users can share passwords with others – so password protecting a PDF does not prevent sharing.

The best way to protect PDF files

If you want PDF protection that works, don’t use passwords, and don’t use web-based protection – both can be bypassed in seconds. Locklizard Safeguard DRM, which uses a local viewer application, secure licensing, and strong encryption, will always offer you better security and more flexibility.

See how you can benefit from implementing Locklizard document security to sell and distribute PDF files securely – prevent IPR theft, protect your revenue streams, and prevent the leak of sensitive information. Read our customer testimonials and case studies to see why thousands of organizations use Locklizard Document DRM to protect PDF files, ebooks, research reports, courses, contracts, board minutes, and other digital documents online.

Download your free 15-day free trial and see why Locklizard is the best way to prevent unauthorized access and use of PDF files.

FAQs

How do I remove protection on a PDF?

Basic PDF password security applied by the likes of Adobe Acrobat and other PDF tools can be removed by using PDF password remover software or an online tool. Users can upload password-protected PDF files to a PDF password removal site or use a paid PDF password remover such as Elcomsoft.

Locklizard Safeguard protection cannot be removed and protected PDFs cannot be shared with unauthorized users.

What does it mean when a PDF is protected?

When a PDF is protected it has been encrypted and may have some kind of restrictions applied to it. These can be restrictions on who can open the file, edit it, print, it, copy and paste from it, etc. Not all PDF protection is equal, so it’s important to understand the benefits and drawbacks of each solution.

How can I open or unlock a protected PDF file?

To open a PDF file protected with Locklizard, you must install the Safeguard Viewer application, have an active license, and be authorized to view the document.

A password-protected PDF can be opened by entering or cracking the password chosen when encrypting it. For this purpose, you can use a tool like Elcomsoft, which can crack simple passwords in minutes.

Can you edit a protected PDF file?

It depends on what was used to protect it. If the answer is Adobe Acrobat, then yes, absolutely. Adobe editing permissions are deeply flawed and easy to remove with online PDF password removal tools.

Locklizard protected PDF files cannot be edited. Users can add annotations however such as highlights and notes.

How do I remove JavaScript from a PDF?

This is best explained by our dedicated guide that covers how to remove JavaScript from a PDF and optimize your PDF in general. Note that after protecting a file with Locklizard Safeguard, it can only be opened in the Safeguard Viewer, which does not allow JavaScript to execute.

Can users copy a Locklizard protected PDF?

The physical file (the .PDC file) can be copied but it can only be opened on an authorized device – if copied to an unauthorized device it will fail to open. An authorized user cannot copy the contents of a PDF using copy & paste, screenshot tools, etc. as it is copy protected.

Can admins change PDF security settings on a PDF after it has been sent?

Yes using Locklizard, controls such as the expiration date, printing, etc. can be changed even if the protected document has been distributed. You can also instantly revoke access.

Does Locklizard protect Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files?

No, you have to save them as PDF files before you can protect them.

Can you open a protected PDF with an expiration date?

If the PDF has been password-protected then the expiration date will be enforced using JavaScript. Users can just disable JavaScript in Adobe Reader (or any other PDF reader) to bypass the expiry control.

If the PDF was protected using Locklizard then the expiry date is always enforced for both online and offline files. Once the PDF has expired then it cannot be opened.

Customer Testimonials

We needed to deliver e-book versions of our handbooks while not compromising on security and digital rights. Safeguard PDF security is easy to use and intuitive.

The implementation was painless and we now have a greener, more secure way of distributing training manuals.
Locklizard’s PDF protection is exactly as described – the features are highly effective and I would give it 5 stars.

I would recommend Locklizard to others - their security is simple to use and fit for purpose. It meets common needs of businesses who have information they want to protect.
We would be happy to recommend Locklizard to any company needing a flexible way to secure PDF files.

Safeguard PDF Security has provided us with a very workable solution for sharing of information in a secure fashion. The support has been excellent and very accommodating.
We can cut accounts for a user five minutes before his class starts and he is ready to go. Happy smiling customer, while we still have security and personalized watermarking.

I have immense respect for the product and Locklizard provide great customer satisfaction and service.
We would recommend Safeguard to other companies for its security, cost and ease of use. It does what we expected it to do and more.

Ease of use is a bonus and the implementation was very easy. The product manual is excellent and Locklizard staff are very accommodating.
We sell a highly valued educational product in an open and competitive market so it was important to ensure we had effective security to protect our digital rights.

We highly recommend Locklizard - a professional company with a competitive and professional PDF Security product.
We would absolutely recommend both Locklizard as a company, and Safeguard PDF Security. It has transformed our study materials to the next level.

Not only did this increase sales, but we also believe that it has increased our customers’ ability to learn, which is even more important!
We would recommend Locklizard Safeguard to other companies that need to protect PDF reports. Customers have found the process of accessing the protected documents to be seamless.

Implementation was easy and technical support has been very responsive to requests for help.
Our company would without reservation recommend Locklizard. Their document DRM software opens up delivery of our new products in a timely fashion while knowing that the content will remain secure.

The return on investment to our company has been immediately evident.
We use Safeguard to make sure that documents cannot be opened outside our local network or from a unauthorized computer in order to copy or print the documents.

It is the most feature rich, affordable, & simple to use PDF security product on the market.
Safeguard PDF Security is simple to administer and meets our needs, consistently delivering secured manuals to our customers with ease.

Return on investment has been elimination of many man hours, printing resources and postage – it is estimated that costs decreased by 50% or more.
We would really recommend Safeguard PDF Security to every publishing company for managing ePubs or e-books securely. It is easy to secure PDF files and simple to distribute them to our authorized customers only.

Locklizard also provides a good customer support experience.
The ROI for us is incalculable. We have the security of knowing that our proprietary documents are secure. This is the entire value of our company.

I would most certainly recommend your PDF security product and already have. The ease of implementation was surprising.
We can now sell our manuals without the need to print them first, saving time, money and helping safeguard the environment.

We would recommend Safeguard PDF DRM – it is the perfect solution to sell and send e-documents securely whilst making sure someone cannot copy them.
We would recommend Locklizard to other companies without hesitation.

Their PDF DRM products provide a manageable, cost effective way to protect intellectual investment and they are always looking for ways to improve them. Moreover, their staff provide an excellent level of support.

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Create, Open & Print Protected PDF Files without passwords

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