Adobe® Acrobat® 9 PDF Bible

Chapter 26. Authentication and Security

Acrobat PDF documents can be secured using a host of different security methods and encryption tools to prevent unauthorized users from opening files and changing documents. Acrobat Security combined with digital signatures enables you to protect data and secure files for just about any purpose. There's much to learn about using Acrobat Security and digital signatures, and it's important to know what levels of security are available to you and what kinds of security you can apply in many different circumstances. This chapter covers a broad description of security and digitally signing PDF documents and the methods you use to protect files against unauthorized viewing and editing.

Setting Up the Work Environment

You add security to a PDF document through menu commands and the Secure Task button that appears in the Tasks toolbar when you return to the default view. If all you want to do is add security to PDFs, you can open a context menu and select Reset Toolbars from the menu options.

If you want to add digital signature fields on a form where users can digitally sign documents, you need to use Form Edit mode or use a document created in Adobe LiveCycle Designer that contains signature fields. Documents can be signed without using signature fields, but when you want to add a field for signing the document, you'll want to work on a form created in Adobe Designer with signature fields or add signature fields in the Form Edit mode. Adding signature ...