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We deliver our client reports mostly in PDF format. For several reasons, mainly to avoid modification, we have set passwords to all of our pdf docs. There are two types of security passwords that are utilized with PDFs: the user password which will prevent anyone from opening the document and the owner password with which one can avoid having the document copied, modified or printed.
PDF security may present problems however if you or anyone in your firm/company loses the user password for your own files or you are accessing someone else’s files and they have forgotten their owner password.
WARNING
Be careful. Depending on the country in which you reside/work, attempting to crack any encryption software could be illegal, even if you own the content. Make sure you are legally entitled to access the data before attempting any of the below methods.
When you cannot copy or modify the PDF file, try a non-Adobe Print to PDF
If the file you’ve downloaded from your library is locked, you may not be able to mark-up the electronic copy.
Try printing the document to PDF again, but using a non-Adobe PDF converter. It should look the same, and you will be able to modify the new version, so you need not print it out before reading it.
When you cannot copy or print the PDF file, try Gmail
To extract the text from a protected PDF file, mail it to your Gmail account, then use the “View as HTML” option. This should allow you to copy the text and (most of) the images, and to print a version of the file, though the layout may not be similar. This may not work with very large files.
When you cannot copy or print the PDF file, try a Password Remover
You can often remove the owner password using AnyBizSoft PDF Password Remover or similar software.
When you can not open the PDF files, try Password Recovery
Cracking the user password is very difficult and time-consuming. There is password recovery software that typically will use a brute force approach, trying all possible combinations. These methods of cracking could take days or even longer, but should produce results eventually.
BNI Operatives: Street smart; Web savvy.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti and all affected by the horrific earthquake that struck the island this past Tuesday afternoon. The loss of lives is in the tens of thousands; the suffering incalculable. May their pain be eased.
As always, stay safe.
Related Articles
- Unlock Secured PDF Files Online For Free (tesarn.blogspot.com)
- Wondershare Launches the First PDF Converter on Mac App Store (prnewswire.com)
Filed under: Computer Security | Tagged: Adobe Acrobat, brute force, Data Formats, Document, documents, encryption crack, format, Haiti, owner passwword, passowrd, password, pdf, Portable Document Format, Publishing, security, user password | Leave a Comment »
