Using passwords is a practical way to protect documents. Power PDF allows you to place password protection on the following items:
PDF documents
Envelopes containing a set of PDF files and optionally other types of file
Packages prepared by PDF Create containing a set of PDF files
Portfolios prepared by Power PDF containing PDF files and optionally other types of file.
PDF files in envelopes, packages and portfolios may have their own passwords.
The advantage of placing a password on an envelope or a portfolio is that it offers protection to non-PDF files that themselves cannot be protected by passwords.
Passwords cannot be applied to documents containing a digital signature.
There are two types of password:
Open Password
People with this password can open the document. If the document has no permissions password, the PDF, once opened can be used freely. If it has a permissions password set, a person with only the Open password can view the set of permitted and prohibited actions but cannot modify them.
Permissions Password
People with this password can open the document, view its permitted and prohibited actions and modify or clear them, also change passwords or remove one or both of the passwords.
Power PDF has no particular requirements for passwords; a good password contains at least six characters, is not easily guessed and has a mix of letters, numbers and symbols. Password use demands careful management, without a valid password the document can no longer be opened.