PDF password security

Nitro PDF Professional lets you set security options on your PDF document. There are a number of options for document-level security. To access security options open the security settings in the Properties panel.

To view security settings in the Properties panel:

• Select Document > Properties > Document Security.

Now that they are visible, you will be able to see a series of checkboxes relating to different security functionality. Although you won't be able to click on them, the status properties give you a quick summary of the security currently applied to the document. When you apply security to a document, Nitro PDF Professional provides you some options when securing files.

To add password security:

1. In the Document Security section of the Properties panel, set the security method as Password Security.
2. Select the Require a Password Open Document checkbox, and then enter a password if you would like to control access to the document.
3. Select the Require a Password to Change Permissions and Password checkbox and then choose a password if you would like to control the usage rights of the document (details on the various options are included below).

Usage options for password security

The usage options available when applying either password security or certificate security include:

• Printing:
• None. Prohibits all printing.
• Low resolution. Allows printing, but only at a low resolution.
• High resolution. Allows full printing privileges.
• Changes allowed:
• None. Prohibits all changes to the document.
• Only document assembly. Allows the insertion, deletion, and rotation of pages.
• Only form field fill-in or signing. Prohibits changes to the document, but allows the addition to the addition of form data, and digital signatures.
• Comment authoring form field fill-in or signing. Allows for the addition of comments, form data, and digital signatures.
• General editing, commenting and form field authoring. Allows full editing comments, form field creation, and fill-in.
• Enable copying of text, images, and other content:
• Off. Prohibits readers selecting text or graphical objects, which would allow copying and pasting of content.
• On. Enables text and graphics selection, allowing for the extraction of this content.
• Enable text access for screen readers for the visually impaired:
• Enabled (cannot be disabled). Allows text to be accessed by screen-reading software for the visually impaired.

Securing PDFs with file attachments

Another great advantage for using security is when you want to password protect access to any file on your computer. You can use a PDF document as a wrapper and secure the file against unauthorized opening. Any file attachments included in the PDF document are protected since a user needs to first open a PDF before extracting a file attachment.

To secure PDFs with file attachments:

1. Select File > Create PDF > Blank PDF. Unless you have a PDF you want to use to attach files, just create a new blank document.
2. Select Document > File Attachments. Click the Import button and add files to attach to the blank document.
3. Optionally, add a Text Box comment. If you want to add some text describing the attached document, use the Text Box tool in the Commenting toolbar and add some text to the blank page. You can add any file to the PDF as an attachment such as Microsoft^® Office files, accounting program files, legal briefs, architectural drawings, etc.
4. Select Document > Properties > Document Security to open the Security panel.
5. Select Password Security and check the box for Require a Password. Supply a password and click OK.
6. Save the file.
7. Click the Email toolbar button to attach the PDF to an email message. Supply the recipient address, a subject and message and click the send button. Anyone receiving the file needs to know the password to open the PDF and view the attachment(s).