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Password security overview

Using passwords is a practical way to protect documents. With Power PDF, you can place password protection on the following items:

  • PDF documents

  • Envelopes containing a set of PDF files and optionally other types of file

  • Portfolios prepared by Power PDF containing PDF files and optionally other types of file.

PDF files in envelopes, packages and portfolios may have their own passwords.

The advantage of placing a password on an envelope or a portfolio is that it offers protection to non-PDF files that themselves cannot be protected by passwords.

Passwords cannot be applied to documents containing a digital signature.

There are two password types:

Open Password
Anyone with this password can open the document. If the document has no permissions password, the PDF, once opened, can be used freely. If it has a permissions password set, a person with only the Open password can view the set of permitted and prohibited actions but cannot modify them.
Permissions Password
Anyone with this password can open the document; view, modify or clear its permitted and prohibited actions; and change passwords or remove one or both passwords.

Power PDF has no particular requirements for passwords; a strong password contains at least six characters, is not easily guessed and has a mix of letters, numbers and symbols. Password use demands careful management, becaise without a valid password, a document cannot be opened.

For more information, see "Security settings overview", and the Password Security dialog box.