PDF passwords and PDF security settings

Set passwords and security settings for your PDF documents.

webPDF offers you the possibility to password protect your PDF files and to set various security settings for your PDF documents. The functions are available - as usual - via the integrated webPDF web portal, as well as the web service API (web service "Toolbox").

When setting the passwords, webPDF distinguishes between the user password (sometimes also called "open password" or "read password") and the owner password (sometimes also called "main password" or "access password"). With the user password you only have the right to open and read the document. The owner password, on the other hand, gives you the right to edit and modify the PDF document. You can use the security settings to specify the various editing options, such as "Insert / Delete / Rotate Page", "Fill in and Sign Form Fields", "Comment", "Copy Content" or "Print" that should be allowed with the PDF document. Please, note that the owner password and the associated access permissions only have a protective function if an appropriate PDF document viewing program takes these settings into account. For better protection, independent of the viewing program, you should use certificates.

webPDF supports the standardized encryption methods "40-bit RC4", "128-bit RC4", "128-bit AES" and "256-bit AES" for password protection. 

It should be noted at this point that the use of PDF passwords and PDF security settings is not possible in conjunction with the PDF/A standard. This standard stipulates that documents must not be encrypted. It is also noted at this point that certificates should be used in conjunction with PDF/A. webPDF naturally also supports these modern security mechanisms, such as the use of certificates in conjunction with digital signatures for PDF documents.

More information about digitally signing PDF documents can be found here.