While it is true, a PDF file is a storage format for digital documents completely independent of software and hardware platforms . These are mainly used to keep writings and information, interactive and regular, as well as graphics, maps, presentations, catalogs and electronic books. In addition, there are different types of PDF documents , among which are: image-only files, documents without labels, labeled documents and electronic forms.
Now, since they are such useful documents, it is necessary to keep them safe all the time . And it is that the protection of the files allows to prevent those unauthorized users or hackers with bad intentions , access these documents and perform some manipulation in them, such as copying or printing them.
Indeed, encrypt or encrypt these types of files solves these types of problems from truly advanced alternatives and functions to protect them. Since there are multiple software to encrypt documents with this pattern, and best of all, they are clearly free. That is why, here is a list of the best tools to protect and encrypt a PDF document with password that hinders unwanted access by other people, satisfactorily .
Index:
List of the best free software to encrypt and encrypt PDF documents with password
With the following free software to protect these documents, your headaches will be left behind and you will no longer be a victim of those hackers who want to plagiarize your information.
Vibosoft PDF Locker for Windows
It is one of the most effective file protectors that exist; Ratify the maximum protection of your documents. This, through the use of a user password and an owner password, in order to achieve truly timely encryption. In the case of the user password , it restricts the access of these people to the file, instead, the owner’s password guarantees that the content of the document is not used.
The Vibosoft PDF Locker for Windows software encrypts the document by encrypting it with three different types of algorithms. This gives you the complete ease of editing your PDF file , but it is impossible for other people to copy, edit and modify it. These algorithms are:
- AES 128 bit : Through this document encryption mode, files will be adjusted and equipped with completely optimal security solutions.
- RC4 128 bit : Provides much more detailed options for all users to apply file restrictions.
- RC4 40 bit : Allows you to protect all documents, so that are not copied, edited or printed by other people.
In addition to this, it is valuable that you know the most notable features of this free software so that you do not hesitate to use it for a second:
- The user password that once set to it cannot be compromised by any professional password removal tool.
- The issue of adding an owner password is one of the most important features, as it provides greater security so that others do not reuse the data shown in the PDF.
- Ensures privacy so that the document can be printed, if authorized, but at the same copying and editing of it is blocked.
- It integrates high stability to the owners, since this software allows you to upload several files at the same time, if you wish. Thus, its handling is much easier. In short, it presents a support for drag and drop, which allows you to import other files quickly.
PDFelement
This is a large closet or suite that guarantees optimal protection of all files. This is achieved through the use of passwords and permissions that can restrict access by unauthorized users to reach files.
As if that were not enough, PDFelement is an effective tool for Windows and Mac users because you can edit, create, sign, convert files and perform them OCR. It also allows you to edit the elements that are there, be they images, pages, color, fonts and add a watermark.
Here are some of the most important features of this software capable of encrypting documents and performing different actions on them:
- It will be very easy for users of this program to edit any document just as they would in Microsoft Word; without losing fonts and formatting.
- It is capable of converting PDF files to other usual formats, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and images.
- Exports scanned data. This suppresses the tedious data entry manually, which often generates errors. This thanks to its advanced OCR technology that quickly and promptly converts a large number of paper documents into files that you can analyze.
- Provides a remarkably consistent user experience, working better and faster than other softwares.
NovaPDF
It is another recognized encryption tool for Windows and protects these files with passwords . This ensures that documents cannot be copied or pasted by unauthorized persons .
In addition to this, this free software can also join several files together in a single PDF document, add watermarks to documents with text or images, sign files of this type and add bookmarks.
For more information, we summarize the features of NovaPDF in order to make sure you use it effectively:
- It does not have its own interface, since its operation is effective.
- In addition to everything, it works as a printer for your system. Since it converts your files into this high quality format, instead of printing them on paper.
- It has advanced features that include the ability to customize image resolution, powerfully encrypt a file (as you know ) and also determine read permissions.
- Automatically detect links in the document, both between files and between web links and add them in the document.
Safeguard PDF Security
This software is responsible for protecting writings through access and use control . With this, it guarantees that those unauthorized users cannot copy, modify or print the texts. All this translates into an effective protection of files, giving checkmate to the participation and excessive distribution of documents through the Internet.
Safeguard PDF Security also prevents unauthorized users from taking screenshots, also complying with the security of documents on local computers. This is a great advantage of using such free software.
Adobe® Acrobat® Pro XI 
It is a software specially designed for users who work with sensitive information . Once you use Adobe® Acrobat® Pro XI you can create and edit them very easily. Immediately, it is possible to control your data from the use of passwords and some receivers, in addition the protection of equipment has been developed with this tool. It all means that the protection of your document will be simple and fast.
So far, a new update of this program has not been obtained, as it came to an end on October 15, 2017 . In this case, we present you with other innovative tools to encrypt them successfully:
- Nitro Pro 11 (Windows) : Light and easy-to-use interface
- Foxit PhantomPDF (Windows and Mac) : Includes all the features of the PDF industry.
- PDF Expert (Mac and iOS) : Compress and reduce the file size without changing the format.
- It has everything that is required to convert PDF files in all popular formats.
- You can edit and manage texts that come from image-based PDFs.
- Supports great variety of import and output formats, such as Microsoft Office, image and EPUB.
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PDF Converter Pro for Windows
Integrates the possibility of using passwords to apply restrictions to functions. In this way, PDF Converter Pro for Windows uses these passwords to generate encryption and it is important to note that without the key, documents cannot be opened and much less make changes to their content.
For its part, it is one of the most advanced versions of the Wondershare products, which ratifies the best levels of protection and particularities that fit to the needs of each user.
Then, it is necessary to take into account some singularities of this software for future use:
PDF Suite
It is a software capable of opening, reading, creating, editing, converting and reviewing them safely. In matters of design, it integrates very basic tools so its users do not need much knowledge for it. In short, the intuitive PDF Suite interface makes it easy to start and execute electronic documents at any given time.
Now, as for the protection of the files it is achieved through the application of keys and restrictions of 256 bits . Best of all, it has a free trial version and so users have the opportunity to analyze the product and learn about its functionality.