Want to know how to password protect a PDF document? Well, that’s easy especially if you already have a PDF viewer with a built-in file encryption feature such as Adobe Acrobat 8 or 9. Now, for whatever reason, let’s just say that you don’t. Like, for example, you’re in a net café and you are not allowed to install any software or programs. Is there any other way for you to be able to secure and lock a PDF file?
Apparently, there is. If you have access to the internet and you can use a web browser, then all you need to do is to follow the steps listed below.
How to secure a PDF file with a password
- On your preferred web browser (ex. Chrome, Firefox, Opera, etc.), click this link [1] to go the homepage of “PDFProtect!” – a free web service that lets you add a password and other security permissions to your PDF files. You can use the said service without logging in. Plus, its connection is encrypted.
- So once you’re on PDFProtect!’s homepage, you’ll see a section where you need to upload the PDF file that you want to secure and lock. With this web app, you can opt to upload a file from your computer or upload it from your Dropbox or Google Drive account.
- After which, just enter the password that you want to use to lock your file. Make sure that it’s a password that’s not easy to guess. You can make a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters with random characters and numbers.
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- After creating your password, you can click the “Advanced Options” link to set your protected PDF file’s encryption level, printing permissions, editing permissions, etc. You can also set a different password for changing your PDF file’s permissions.
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- Once you’re done, just click the “Protect!” button and wait for a few seconds. Once the web app is finished processing your protected PDF file, a “Save As” dialog box will appear and you will be prompted to save the protected PDF document to your computer. Just click “Save” to confirm.
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So that’s it. When opening the said file, you will be prompted to enter the correct password. This will help keep your confidential files safe from unauthorized users.