Password security in PDF files

Passwords allow you to restrict access and usage of your content to people who have the password used to secure the PDF file.

• Open passwords. These lock your file so only people with the correct password can open the file.
• Permission passwords. These lock particular functionality when a user opens your file. For example, you could stop recipients from copying text from or printing your document.

There are two ways to secure a PDF file using certificate security:

• Password Security dialog. In the Document Properties area of Nitro PDF Professional you can view security settings and manually apply security.
• Security profiles. The re-usable security profiles allow you to save custom security settings and then apply those settings to a document with one click.

To apply password security to a PDF file:

1. Do one of the following:
• Click the Nitro PDF Button , and then click Document Properties . On the Security tab, in the Security method list, select Password security and click Change Settings.
• On the Secure and Sign ribbon tab, in the Secure Document group, click Password Security .
2. In the Password Security dialog do one or more of the following:
• If you want users to enter a password to open your file, click the Require a password to the document box, and then enter your password.
• If you want to restrict permissions once a file is opened, click the Require a password to change security settings and access specific functions box, and then enter your password and click the options you want to restrict.
3. Click OK or Finish.
4. Click the Nitro PDF Button and then click Save to apply the security.

To apply password security with a security profile:

1. Ensure that you have already created a security profile. To view and manage profiles, on the Secure and Sign ribbon tab, in the Secure Document group, click Manage Profiles .
2. On the Secure and Sign tab, in the Secure Document group, click the arrow below Password Security .
3. Click the security profile from the list.
4. Click the Nitro PDF Button and then click Save to apply the security.