How to Protect PDF Today Blog

Since Adobe Systems introduced the PDF format in 1993 it has rapidly become the number one universal document format on the internet. Not without any reasons, as there is a growing demand for such a universal format to allow people to share their ideas and work digitally on the internet. The number of different software programs keeps on growing and growing, from fantastic organizers, spreadsheet programs, to photo editing software: they all tend to make our lives easier, but often forget one major point: the ability to allow the user to share his/her work! The so called web 2.0 is already a fact, and the internet is becoming a place of creating and sharing your own ideas and work.

The popular PDF format solved this problem by introducing itself as a system-wide universal format: almost anyone on any computer system is able to open a PDF file these days. People have clearly discovered some advantages of PDF files, but yet only a few are actively creating PDF files themselves. So why should you consider creating your own PDF documents? I present you the top 10 advantages of this widely popular format:

1. Compatible Across platforms; From Windows, Mac, Linux, to even modern mobile phones and PDA’s: PDF files can be opened on basically any system! You don’t have to worry about your co-workers, students, family, or whomever you’re sharing your work with, not being able to open your files.

2. Compact & Small; When you convert an existing document to a PDF file, it will automatically be highly optimized making it much smaller in size without losing any quality. Note that you can often also combine and merge multiple documents into one single PDF: spreadsheets, word documents, photos, etc..: you can join them all together into a single PDF File!

3. Can be created from any source document/application; The powerful technology behind the PDF format allows you to convert almost any document, from any application to a PDF file. With a decent PDF Creator your PDF file will just look like you printed your file on high quality paper.

4. Secure to avoid people from modifying & redistributing your work; Protect your PDF File, and prevent users from printing, duplicating or even opening your work. The encrypted protection makes it possible to share your work, without having to worry about various doom scenarios.

5. Secure, lower chance of getting infected with viruses; There’s low chance of a PDF file getting infected with something like a virus or trojan, which makes it a safe and trusted way of sharing your work.

6. Easy and quick to create when using the right software; You’ll find a ton of different pdf conversion programs on the internet, one looking even more fancier than the other, with prices varying from $30 to $4000. Most of them are pretty easy to use though, and you’ll usually be able to convert your documents to PDF in a few simple clicks. Choosing a good software solution is another story, but you can find some advice at my other PDF Creator article.

7. Software to view PDF Files is completely free; Software like Acrobat Reader to open PDF Files can be downloaded for free, and is already installed on most computers. Often it will be installed in combinations with other software you bought on CD-Rom. (A lot of companies deliver their documentation as PDF files.)

8. Viewable within most web-browsers; You’re simply able to open and view PDF files in your favorite web-browser. You can simply click a link whenever someone links to a PDF file on a website, and the file will be opened automatically.

9. PDF Files meet legal document requirements; A document must be kept in a format that can’t be changed or altered without leaving any footprints, if you want it to be admissible in a court of law. A created PDF file can’t be altered, and usually meets these legal requirements. (Contact a legal advisor for more info.)

10. Compatible with modern portable reader systems; This is a whole new but powerful phenomenon: various companies like Sony are working on digitally paper pads. These flat panels, not much larger than a regular book, allow you to upload your PDF files to the device, so you can read through the information like a normal book. Sounds like science fiction, but you can already buy these devices for +- $299. Prices are guaranteed to drop the coming years, and it’s a great way to save literally heaps of paper!

Visit this Convert Word document to PDF lens page for more info about creating your own PDF files.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/485574

What happens if you don’t protect your PDF documents?

Real-life PDF Security Failure Example;

I launched an ebook in 2007, on how to market a business online, using pay per click marketing. I chose not to protect my PDF with any PDF security, other than the standard protection available within Adobe Acrobat. Today thousands of unauthorized PDF copies are floating around the internet – costing me tens of thousands of dollars in lost sales.

The most common kind of simple PDF protection available within Adobe Acrobat, are;

• using a password to prevent people highlighting & copying your text – then pasting into a word document or similar

• using a simple password that people must enter to open the PDF document

Is Password PDF Protection Effective?

Clearly not. Someone who says ‘protect my PDF’ and expects it to be done with a password, alone, has this to worry about;

A Google search for the term, “PDF Torrent” yields about 77,500,000 results. Today’s wired world virtually assures that if your document is even remotely desirable, massive file sharing will occur. If a protective security shell is not placed around your PDF document, thousands of PDF copies will be distributed against your wishes.

Relying on PDF Passwords is Deadly

Yet many companies and individuals continue to rely on these weak security methods to prevent online theft. Here are 3 good reasons to protect your PDF with stronger security than the simple password methods available from within Acrobat;

1. If PDF protection is not in place, massive copying of your file is virtually assured, bringing financial losses to you and your company

2. Your copyright protection can be weakened by the fact you did not take necessary precautions. A judge may not look seriously upon any complaint you have, if you have not made a good effort to protect your intellectual property. This has been shown to be a loophole, allowing digital thieves to escape prosecution in a number of recent cases.

3. Digital thieves may be encouraged to look further into your online activities, seeking additional ways to steal from you, knowing that you have security holes in even the most simple areas – your documents

What are Some Practical PDF Protection Alternatives?

Simple, inexpensive and easy to use PDF protection methods are available, including versions where a customer can download only a specially-protected version of your PDF, and opened up on their computer using a special code. But here’s the critical part; such protection must not only be a password. It must also include live, real-time monitoring of when and from where (IP address) your file is being opened.

In this way, you can monitor who is opening your PDF files online, when and from where.

Additionally, such a PDF protection system must include the facility to withdraw access to your PDF files – at your discretion – from anyone you wish. Book Guard Pro is an easy-to use system that has all these features; code protection, live monitoring of PDF usage and the ability to withdraw access at any time.

Versions of Book Guard Pro are available that enable their PDF file protection system to be used on both Windows PCs and Macs. To download a live example of this easy and inexpensive PDF protection system, click here.

A PDF protection coupon is available here where you get one month of PDF protection free.

For step-by-step PDF protection videos and further details of the easy steps to protecting  and monitoring your PDF documents, please watch PDF protection videos here .