Advanced PDF Security
Upload PDF to Secure
Apply military-grade encryption
Configure Security
1. Passwords
If lost, permissions cannot be removed.
2. Restrictions
Uncheck items to forbid them.
By continuing, you handle this file locally.
Protect your intellectual property. Our Advanced PDF Security tool allows you to do more than just add a password—it lets you define exactly what users can and cannot do with your document.
Permissions vs. Passwords
Most tools only offer a "User Password" (required to open the file). This tool sets an "Owner Password," which grants you Master Admin rights to restrict printing, copying text, or editing pages, even if the user can open and view the document.
AES Encryption Standard
We implement the AES-256 (Advanced Encryption Standard) protocol. This wraps your PDF content in a digital vault that is virtually unbreakable by brute-force attacks, ensuring your sensitive contracts or manuscripts remain secure.
How to Lock a PDF
- Upload: Choose your file.
- Set Owner Password: Create a strong master password (don't lose it!).
- Define User Password: Optional. Set this if you want to prevent opening the file entirely.
- Uncheck Permissions: Deselect "Printing" or "Copying" to disable those features.
- Encrypt: Download your secured document.
Granular Controls
- Disable Printing: Prevent unauthorized hard copies.
- Block Copy-Paste: Stop users from extracting your text.
- Prevent Editing: Ensure your document remains unaltered.
Specifications
- Security Level: 128-bit or 256-bit AES.
- Compatibility: Works with Adobe Reader, Chrome, and all standard viewers.
- Recovery: Owner passwords generally cannot be recovered if lost.
Who Needs This?
- eBooks & Authors: Distribute your book while preventing copy-pasting of chapters.
- Legal Contracts: Allow clients to read and sign without editing the terms.
- Invoices: Send bills that can be viewed but not altered.
Secure Encryption
Your passwords are your keys. We do not store them. The encryption process happens securely, and since the Owner Password is required to reverse the changes, you retain full control over the file's lifecycle.
Free vs Premium
Free Version: Full encryption features.
Premium Version: (Future) Batch encryption for multiple files.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can users break this security?
Modern AES-256 encryption is extremely secure. However, weak passwords (like "1234") are vulnerable to guessing.
Does this prevent screenshots?
No. DRM tools are needed to block screenshots. This tool handles file-level permissions.
Other Tools
Need to allow full access again? Unlock PDF to remove these restrictions (if you have the password), Redact PDF to permanently black out text, or Add Watermark for visual security.
Quick Summary
PDFPlug Permissions allows you to share documents confidently by restricting how they can be used.
Last updated: January 2026