Protect PDF

An open PDF can be forwarded, printed, and copied by anyone who has it. A password-protected PDF requires explicit permission to open. For tax returns, payslips, medical reports, and legal contracts, that permission layer is worth adding before sharing.

Two password types: an open password prevents anyone without it from opening the file at all; an owner password allows reading but blocks printing, copying, or editing. You can set one or both depending on how much control you need.

Use a strong password — a short common word can be cracked quickly by automated tools. A passphrase of three or four unrelated words is far more resistant and easier to remember. Send the file and the password through different channels: email the PDF, text the password.