How To Prevent Forwarding A PDF?
How To Prevent Forwarding A PDF?
PDF files can contain a great variety of information, often consisting of
confidential or sensitive data that cannot fall into the wrong hands. That is why it
is so important to make sure that any person with the files will be able to access
them, much less make modifications. However, sharing files with other co-workers is
imperative, so it’s extremely important that documents are only sent to specific,
trusted people. In this article, we will discuss how to prevent a PDF file from
being sent to untrusted people and how to prevent it from falling into the wrong
hands.
Set a password
The simplest technique for securing a PDF file is to protect it with a password. You can
then share the password only with people who are authorized to open the document, and
anyone who enters the access code will be able to open the file. The ability to add a
password to a document is offered by most text editors, such as Word. Just open the file
in the program and choose the appropriate option.
This solution has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages undoubtedly include the fact that even in the case of accidental sharing of the document, the person who receives it and does not have the password will not be able to access the content easily. However, setting a password has more disadvantages. First, the access code can be cracked with password recovery tools. In addition, you cannot prevent authorized users from sharing the password with other, untrusted people. Then, unauthorized persons can have very easy access to the document. In addition, if you have multiple password-protected documents, you must keep a record of them and their access codes in order to open them yourself. If such a list falls into the wrong hands, all files could be stolen.
This solution has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages undoubtedly include the fact that even in the case of accidental sharing of the document, the person who receives it and does not have the password will not be able to access the content easily. However, setting a password has more disadvantages. First, the access code can be cracked with password recovery tools. In addition, you cannot prevent authorized users from sharing the password with other, untrusted people. Then, unauthorized persons can have very easy access to the document. In addition, if you have multiple password-protected documents, you must keep a record of them and their access codes in order to open them yourself. If such a list falls into the wrong hands, all files could be stolen.
Apply DRM mechanisms
Another way to secure PDF files is to use DRM, or digital rights management. DRM is a
set of technologies that puts the author in control of what the reader of a document’s
content can do with it. This helps to prevent the sharing of the information contained
within.
This is especially useful if you have sensitive or confidential documents, want to determine the availability date of a specific document, or want to limit the location or network on which you can access PDF files. DRM prevents unauthorized sharing and dissemination using a combination of access rights, encryption, licensing controls, and other security techniques.
DRM protection adds extra document protection that strengthens encryption. The primary functions of DRM are to prevent files from being copied, printed, and altered. On the other hand, advanced mechanisms additionally allow for sharing documents only in authorized locations, which provide another level of security for sending and storing documents in PDF format. How exactly can you use DRM mechanisms?
This is especially useful if you have sensitive or confidential documents, want to determine the availability date of a specific document, or want to limit the location or network on which you can access PDF files. DRM prevents unauthorized sharing and dissemination using a combination of access rights, encryption, licensing controls, and other security techniques.
DRM protection adds extra document protection that strengthens encryption. The primary functions of DRM are to prevent files from being copied, printed, and altered. On the other hand, advanced mechanisms additionally allow for sharing documents only in authorized locations, which provide another level of security for sending and storing documents in PDF format. How exactly can you use DRM mechanisms?
Set an expiration date
Documents expiring after a specified period of time is one method of PDF file
protection, enabling safe distribution and restriction of access by unauthorized
persons. It works thanks to a very simple principle: you set an expiration date for the
document being accessible, and after that date it will not be readable. Expiration can
be both a specific date after which a file will automatically lock or a time period,
e.g. a document will expire 3 days after printing.
Blocked printing option
Another good way to protect your files from unwanted activity is to prevent them being
from printed. Disabling printing allows you to prevent distribution of printouts among
users who are not authorized to have them. You can either block printing completely,
limit the number of prints, or force only black and white printing, for example. In
addition to applying a lock, you can also track the use of a secured document thanks to
the addition of dynamic watermarks that appear on printed content in the form of
confidentiality seals, company logos or dynamically generated watermark containing
user's email, date or other personal user's info. As a result, the number of unwanted
printouts will be significantly decreased.
Location-dependent security checks
By applying security controls to documents, you can ensure that only specific locations
and IP addresses can access a given PDF. It is extremely important that the
location-dependent lock includes all places where the document is to be available, so as
not to impede access for authorized persons. However, location-dependent security checks
significantly protect PDF files from falling into the wrong hands.
Want to take care of it all in one go? Check the capabilities of HelpRange.
Want to take care of it all in one go? Check the capabilities of HelpRange.
HelpRange's Data Rooms & Turning Off Forwarding
While all the previously mentioned methods of securing the transmission of PDF documents
can increase their security, they are still not sufficient. The aforementioned methods
do not guarantee protection against the copying of documents or their use to the
detriment of the authoring organization or company. From an aesthetic point of view,
such documents also do not look professional, and users may face technical problems with
opening them correctly. Fortunately, there are tools available that can guarantee
increased protection of sent documents and allow them to look aesthetically
pleasing.
Broad document protection and digital rights management can be provided by programs like
HelpRange. Such tools combine all the previously mentioned protection
options to
guarantee the protection of your PDF files. They offer functionalities including access
to PDF files based on IP protocols. This allows for reaching people who have access to a
file, limiting the number of views of the document, and setting permission for the PDF
file to only be viewed by one person at a time, etc. The person managing the file can
also set temporary access restrictions and disable the ability to download, print, or
open the file at any time.
HelpRange goes even further in securing your PDF files and ensuring that
they are
shared only with those you intend to share them with.
In addition to protecting your PDF upload process, HelpRange offers the ability to apply a screenshot mask to prevent taking photos of your document. You can also disable possibility to take screenshots, but you would need to force users to install app on Android, iPhone or iPad devices. The PDF files can also be blocked from forwarding for protection from people who may gain unauthorized access to them. If that is of interest to you, HelpRange is here to assist.
One specific PDF link can only be shared with one user at a time, which means that only the first person who opens it will have the opportunity to open it again in the future. If that PDF is forwarded to other people, they won’t be able to open it, and the links will be displayed as blocked ones. Furthermore, PDF blocking includes also the owner of the file – it clearly works only for one user, and one only. So, if you want to professionally secure your PDF links and make them available only for a specific user, using HelpRange for blocking PDF forwarding is one of the most reasonable options for you.
Disallowing PDF forwarding is not a default option in HelpRange. However, you can easily turn it on in Settings -> Links. Then, a particular link will be “covered,” and once a given user opens it, any attempt to forward such a file will result in failure. Only the first device that opened the file will be recognized as the one with the ability to open it again.
Another option is to use HelpRange's feature called "Data Room", where you can securely share your documents with users: your users will need to sign in into HelpRange secure online Data Room by providing OTP codes sent to their email addresses.
In addition to protecting your PDF upload process, HelpRange offers the ability to apply a screenshot mask to prevent taking photos of your document. You can also disable possibility to take screenshots, but you would need to force users to install app on Android, iPhone or iPad devices. The PDF files can also be blocked from forwarding for protection from people who may gain unauthorized access to them. If that is of interest to you, HelpRange is here to assist.
One specific PDF link can only be shared with one user at a time, which means that only the first person who opens it will have the opportunity to open it again in the future. If that PDF is forwarded to other people, they won’t be able to open it, and the links will be displayed as blocked ones. Furthermore, PDF blocking includes also the owner of the file – it clearly works only for one user, and one only. So, if you want to professionally secure your PDF links and make them available only for a specific user, using HelpRange for blocking PDF forwarding is one of the most reasonable options for you.
Disallowing PDF forwarding is not a default option in HelpRange. However, you can easily turn it on in Settings -> Links. Then, a particular link will be “covered,” and once a given user opens it, any attempt to forward such a file will result in failure. Only the first device that opened the file will be recognized as the one with the ability to open it again.
Another option is to use HelpRange's feature called "Data Room", where you can securely share your documents with users: your users will need to sign in into HelpRange secure online Data Room by providing OTP codes sent to their email addresses.
A Few Words Of Summary
Securely sending PDF files is a challenge for many businesses. However, it is an
obligation that must be fulfilled for the safety and good of the organization.
Traditional methods of protecting and transferring files are not sufficiently secure.
Fortunately, additional security measures are readily available, so you can easily
protect yourself from the disclosure of documents to third parties or from hacking
attacks. The best, most comprehensive protection and monitoring of PDFs is provided by
programs such as HelpRange. With it, full control over transferred files
ensures the
security of your company and its documents.