Steps to Password Protect a PDF File
PDF or Portable Document Format is a file format created by Adobe Systems Inc. This document format allows one to capture information from a variety of applications, and present or share this information on another computer. In the 17 years since its inception the PDF has become a globally accepted way of sharing information.
In order to view a PDF file, one only needs an Adobe Acrobat Reader which can be downloaded for free from Adobe Systems Inc. However, in order to create a PDF one needs Adobe Acrobat software. Acrobat allows the reader to insert multiple levels of security in a PDF, including password protection as well as permission to allow changes to different areas of the PDF.
To set a password:
Open Adobe Acrobat.
Open the file that you want to convert to PDF.
Click on Advanced > Security > Password Encrypt.
You will be presented with a screen that says "Password Security - Settings."
This screen will have a checkbox with the text "Require a password to open the document." Check this box. Below, in the space next to "Document Open Password:" type in a password that you would like to use to protect your PDF.
If you would like to restrict your user's ability to make changes to your PDF, go further down the page and check the box next to "Restrict editing and printing of this document. A password will be required in order to change these permission settings."
Enter a permissions password in the space provided.
Click "OK" to save your encryption, and proceed to create the PDF. By setting passwords and permission on your PDF, you can ensure that it is only open and read by the intended audience. You can email your PDF to a recipient and notify the recipient of the passwords by phone or verbally. These levels of security are very useful when you are sharing confidential company documents or personal information.