Guide2026-03-215 min read
PDF Security Best Practices — Protect Your Documents
Layers of PDF Security
1. Password Protection
Use Protect PDF to require a password to open the document. Best for highly sensitive files.
2. Watermarking
Use Add Watermark to visually mark documents as CONFIDENTIAL. Deters unauthorized sharing.
3. Flattening
Use Flatten PDF to lock form fields and prevent editing of submitted forms.
4. Bates Numbering
Use Bates Numbering for legal documents to prove no pages were added or removed.
5. Signatures
Use Add Signature to sign documents digitally.
Safe Sharing Practices
Remove metadata before sharing — use Metadata Viewer to check what's exposed
Flatten forms before sending completed documents
Watermark drafts so they're not confused with finals
Password-protect before emailing sensitive files
Share passwords separately — never in the same email
Why PDFEdits Is Secure
Files never leave your browser
No server-side processing
No data retention
No accounts to hack