How to prevent copying and pasting from a PDF

Question

Hello,  I would like to protect a PDF document version 8 from copying. I am working on a PC.  I have tried several things, but I can't find it:  - Document -> Protection -> Show protection properties: Here I can't modify anything  - Edit -> Preferences -> Protection -> Advanced Preferences Nothing mentions copying  Thank you for helping me if you have any ideas on the matter.  Please don't preach to me about how "nothing can be fully protected." I know that. It's no reason to leave the door open.  Thank you in advance for your responses!  bib

Malain · Accepted Answer

Hi, I think I have solved your problem. You need to create your PDF file with PDFCreator (downloadable here: https://www.commentcamarche.net/telecharger/bureautique/17257-pdfcreator/ you can even do it from a file that is already in PDF.  In the options of PDFCreator, click on PDF formats then go to the Security tab and check "use security options" and "prohibit the user from: copying text and images" If you do not want a password to open it, uncheck "Password required to open the document"  Finally, to create the file, click Print, choose the PDFCreator printer and save it where you want.  There you go!

Anneli21 · Answer

Good evening the question asked on Google gives this http://blog.flyounet.net/2005/03/18/E2E2z-Cryptersecuriserproteger-Un-Fichier-Pdf-Un-Genre-Dhowto -- Theory is when we understand everything but nothing works; Practice is when everything works but we don't know why.

bib · Answer

Good evening Anneli21,  I've just tried to follow the steps you sent me, but I don't understand anything!  I'm not at all an expert in IT, so I don't see where to copy the lines of code. Moreover, this method talks about Linux (I'm on Windows) and Ubuntu (?). Anyway, I'm confused. I've downloaded what was recommended, but I don't even know how to run it...  Isn’t there a simpler method?

Anneli21 · Answer

Well, I admit it's not easy - you still have the solution to burn it onto a RW and remove it from the PC - there’s also software that does this, I downloaded it as a trial, it's great because it makes the folder or file invisible to others but the downside is that it’s paid, it's called hide folder at this address: http://www.softpicks.fr/software/Utilitaires/Securite-le-Cryptage/Hide-Folder_fr-27614.htm -- Theory is when you understand everything but nothing works; Practice is when everything works but you don't know why.

bib · Answer

In fact, I don’t want the file to be invisible to others. I need to send it by email to someone, but I’d like this person to be unable to copy and paste my work. However, this person must be able to read it!   I just want that when the person right-clicks to copy a selection of text or an image, the "copy" option does not appear.   Is that what you understood or did I express myself poorly?

Anneli21 · Answer

I hadn't understood that indeed, you want to put a copyright on it  -- Theory is when you understand everything but nothing works; Practice is when everything works but you don't know why.

Anneli21 · Answer

I only found this http://mosx.org/spip.php?article15 -- Theory is when we understand everything but nothing works; Practice is when everything works but we don't know why.

bib · Answer

Thank you for your advice but I think I have found my answer.  In fact, I can't do it because I didn't create my PDF with Adobe Writer (which I don't have); I simply converted a Word document into a PDF. This "version" of a PDF document doesn't offer the document protection features that a PDF created with Adobe Writer would provide!  Have a good evening.  Bib

Anneli21 · Answer

Well, here's your problem solved - don't forget to close the conversation -- Theory is when we understand everything but nothing works; Practice is when everything works but we don't know why.

bib · Answer

I would like to close this conversation but how?  I searched the site for a forum manual but couldn't find anything. In a discussion on the "tips and tricks" forum, it says that only moderators can close a conversation! I'm not a moderator yet!!!! ;o)

Janou.B · Answer

Good evening,  Solution here => http://www.gratilog.net/xoops/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?cid=49&lid=84  PDFTK has several functions, including the one you're interested in: prohibiting the copying and/or extraction of content.  First, you need to download and install PDFTK (downloadable from this link https://www.pdflabs.com/tools/pdftk-the-pdf-toolkit/ since the developer's site no longer exists) and then install its graphical interface Pdftk FE v 0.63 beta in the same directory from the above link.  The interface (which avoids having to enter commands in the command line) is in French and can be launched using the pdftkfe.exe file (create a shortcut to this file on the desktop or in a toolbar). Both of these programs are free.  However, do not get your hopes too high about securing a PDF; there are software that can bypass all protections of this file format, even if the document is encrypted... And nothing prevents someone from taking screenshots of text to reproduce it under their name. That's the way it is.

bib · Answer

Good evening Janou,  So I tried your method but the protection that is offered is to set a password while I want it to be accessible, so it doesn't fit. Moreover, it still opened the command lines and not the graphical interface.  Thank you anyway.

Janou.B · Answer

Good evening again,  So, you need to use a paid software, and one of them is very lightweight and easy to use. It's called PDF Encrypt & Decrypt v.1.01. See here: http://www.clubic.com/telecharger-fiche169752-pdf-encrypt-decrypt.html  Developer's website: https://www.bureausoft.com/products.html#PDF%20Encrypt%20&%20Decrypt Price for a license: €42  You can activate only one function without necessarily setting a password. Proof by images:  http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/1624/encrypt1av7.jpg After selecting the only allowed function, click on the Encrypt button  http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/6449/encrypt2vp1.jpg Save the modified file under a different name  http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/3152/encrypt3gs2.jpg The Copy function is disabled in the PDF reader software (Foxit Reader in my case)  http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/2290/encrypt4jz1.jpg If you insist and click on the Text Selection button on the Toolbar to try copying, this message appears.  It's up to you to decide, bib, whether your documents are worth this €42. Moreover, I repeat: some software - paid, of course - can remove protections. But not everyone knows this! (except, now, the forum users who have read my post...) ;-)

Janou.B · Answer

Hello Etienne,  The link I provided in my previous post (http://www.commentcamarche.net/faq/sujet 1036 pdf convert pdfs to jpeg bmp gif etc) offers several methods, including using PDF Creator (choose to save the document in an image format), or ImageMagick (command line conversion).  The free software Signature995 (http://www.signature995.com) will allow you to encrypt the obtained document to restrict its use: prevent printing, copying its content, modifications, and even reading (!) unless you know the password, of course.  However, while this protection system is effective for the average user, it will never hold up against software such as PDF Encrypt & Decrypt and/or PDF Password Remover (see my previous posts).  When one makes any digital work available to others, whether through the Internet or an external medium, one automatically runs the risk of plagiarism by breaking the protection code if it exists. The means are plentiful!  It’s therefore a choice: keep your creation to yourself or share it, fully aware of the potential misuse that could occur. That’s just how it is...

bobcrack · Answer

I am sending you a YouTube link for the PDF files. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=4wLC97iX3cs Best regards, Bob

Rrradassse · Answer

Hello,  The problem with printing in image format (notably using PDF Creator) is that only one page is printed (I believe it prints them all but saves them under the same name so they overwrite each other?)... do we have to print all the pages one by one?

Mestre Jehan · Answer

Hello Rrradassse,  After right-clicking on an image and "Copy/Paste" ... After Shift + Print Screen ... After clicking the "Superb Screenshot" icon (partial or full) ... After reverse video then Ctrl + C (to copy to clipboard) ... which surpasses even the protection of a PDF ...  After screen capture with a camera ... and there are many tricks ...  I always put a Copyright on all my photos. © Rrradasse 10/2015 (for example) There are tons of image processing software. I'll mention PaintNet, but Photoshop, GIMP, and many others can do overlays in images ... So I click on the [T] icon to add text in your chosen color from the available palette with [F8], then you click on [More>>] which becomes [

How to prevent copying and pasting from a PDF

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