Cybercriminals and hackers have had a busy year. In 2021, the number of data breaches surpassed 2020 by 17%. With much more of our data being out there, it creates a honeypot for bad actors. What can you and your company do to protect yourself? One way is through PDF encryption.
When sharing files, this will be a much more secure way of doing so. You don’t want your information getting into the wrong hands, do you? Who knows what these people will do with such valuable information anyhow. If you’d like to learn all about the different types of PDF encryption, read our post below.
Who Encrypts PDFs?
What are some examples of organizations that use PDF encryption?
- A bank sending documents to a customer
- Medical diagnostic devices sending results to patients or medics
- Government agencies receiving documents
The need has become so apparent that many e-mail applications provide the ability to encrypt a PDF attachment.
Standard Protection
The standard PDF format allows for the user to read the document but not make any edits to it. When you wish to share public information such as a promotional brochure, this level of PDF protection is most suitable.
Password Protection
Password-protected PDF encryption enables you to set the security level. Are there actions you wish to restrict to the end-user while allowing other people access?
Documents you wish to keep secret or private are most suited for this type of PDF format. You may also want to prevent printing of the PDF unless a password is entered first.
All of these options are under your control and at your disposal under “Document Properties” when you create the PDF.
Certificate Security
When first learning how to encrypt a PDF, password-protected documents are okay internally. If those documents are shared outside of the organization, it may open up several security concerns.
For example, if someone in your company shares a password via e-mail, it could be intercepted by a third party.
Certificate security solves this problem by using public-key encryption. This type of PDF encryption guarantees the identity of the originator/creator of the PDF.
This will only allow specific recipients to access and view the file. You could even set it up so that they can read a PDF file in C#.
Keep Yourself Safe With PDF Encryption
To keep your files safe and secure, you must learn about PDF encryption. Learning how to encrypt a PDF isn’t difficult, and it will save you in the end. You could even conduct a class for your colleagues and teach them.
Knowing how to stay safe online is crucial these days. As we spend more and more time on the web, it becomes even more important to protect ourselves and our data. We encourage you to pass this information along as well.
To stay in the know on technology, privacy, and security, be sure to browse through our blog.
