Corporate data leaks are on the increase. And the consequences can be terrible: identity theft, ransom demands, loss of credibility... How can you protect yourself? By protecting your sensitive files with strong passwords. Find out how to lock a PDF with the PDFSmart online tool!
Why lock a PDF with a password?
Businesses need to exchange and handle a large number of confidential documents, such as contracts, financial reports and customer data. Without adequate protection, these PDF files can be consulted or stolen by malicious users.
Locking a PDF with a password ensures that only authorised recipients can open the file. This limits the risk of leaks or industrial espionage, as well as file modifications by unauthorised third parties.
Why use PDFSmart for this task?
Accessible from any device (computer, tablet, smartphone) and the main web browsers, PDFSmart secures your files wherever you are, without having to install any specific software. And thanks to its intuitive interface, you can protect your PDF documents with just a few clicks.
Finally, PDFSmart puts a premium on security. Downloaded documents benefit from double encryption: ARC4 and AES. This double cryptographic barrier makes it impossible to access your files without your password. So remember your password!
Steps to lock a PDF with PDFSmart
Step 1: Go to PDFSmart
To begin, go to PDFSmart from any browser. The interface is available from the home page or by clicking on ‘Manage’, then ‘Lock PDF’ in the main menu.
Step 2: Import the PDF file to be encrypted
Once you are on the dedicated page, you can import the file in three different ways:
- From your computer by clicking on ‘Import the PDF to be converted’.
- From a cloud storage service such as Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive
- Using drag and drop in the space provided
Step 3: Protect the PDF document with a password
The PDFSmart platform guides you step-by-step through the process of creating a strong password. We recommend that you choose a password with at least 7 characters, including a number, a capital letter and a special character (hyphen, question mark, etc.). Also avoid existing words or words that are too simple, such as your children's first names or your date of birth.
Step 4: Download the document
Once you've secured your PDF, all you have to do is download it. You can also share it directly from PDFSmart, by email or via a cloud service.
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To conclude
Locking a PDF with a password protects sensitive documents from unauthorised access. This reduces the risk of information leaks, industrial espionage or unwanted modifications.
PDFSmart offers you a simple, accessible and secure solution, with double encryption to guarantee maximum protection for your PDF files. Enjoy our 7-day trial version now! As well as locking your PDFs, you'll be able to try out other features such as unlocking, electronic signatures and merging and compressing your documents. Secure your exchanges and simplify PDF management with PDFSmart!