A PDF document encrypted with a certificate allows you to set trusted recipients, each with their own level of accessibility. A password-protected document may be accessible to other parties once the password is released, but certificate-enabled files require a personal digital ID to access the document. This specificity adds another layer of protection and prevents leakage or distribution.

 

To encrypt a file and create a recipient list:

  1. Choose Document > Document Properties, or click the PDF Gold triangleright Certificate Security button at the top of the vertical scrolling bar to select Document Properties.
  2. Click the Security tab, and then select Certificate Security from the Security Method menu. The Certificate Security Setting dialog box will pop up.
  3. First you have the option to save these settings as a scheme for future use. Enter a title for the new scheme and a description and a picture if desired. Click Next to move on.
  4. Select the document components you wish to encrypt and select 128-bit or 128-bit AES from the Encryption Algorithm menu. Click Next. See Password Security Options.
  5. Add your trusted contacts as recipients. You then have the option to:
    • Click to add existing certificates to trusted contacts.
    • Click to create new certificates and add to trusted contacts.
    • Click to set permissions for a selected recipient. You can set different levels of access for different recipients. If you don’t set permissions, the recipients have full access by default. See Password Security Options.
    • Click to view the details of a recipient’s certificate.

    Click Next.

  6. View your certificate security details and click Finish.

Note: When someone from your recipient list opens the PDF document, the security settings you specified for that person are used.

To change the security settings for an secured PDF:

  1. Choose Document > Document Properties, or click the button PDF Gold triangleright Certificate Security at the top of the vertical scrolling bar to select Document Properties.
  2. Click the Security tab, and then click Change Settings.
  3. Do one of the following and then click OK:
    • To view the detailed information of a recipient, select the recipient, and then click Details.
    • To remove recipients, select one or more recipients, and then click Remove. Do not remove your own certificate from this list, or you won’t have access to the file using that certificate.
    • To change recipients’ permissions, select one or more recipients, and then select Set Permissions.

To remove security settings from a PDF:

  1. Choose Document > Document Properties, or click the button PDF Gold triangleright Certificate Security at the top of the vertical scrolling bar to select Document Properties.
  2. Click the Security tab, and then choose No Security from the Security Method menu.
  3. When prompted, click OK to confirm you’ve decided to remove previous security settings.

Note: You can also remove the security settings by selecting Remove Security Settings from the Security toolbar menu.

Certificate Security