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31 December 2020  Ashley S. Miller  Specialist of Customer Service Dept.
 

Summary
Sometimes, we don’t want to share or print the PDF files. How can we keep them well? In this article, we will talk about how to password protect a PDF file without Acrobat.



Part 1: Why PDF Should be Protected with Password?

How to password protect a PDF file without Acrobat? Many people prefer to send the files in PDF because the layout remains original. But, when you are sending the PDF files by mail, it may be hijacked or stolen. To prevent these cases, we can add password to protect the PDF files and limit the unauthorized people to print and copy them.
how to password protect a pdf file without acrobat pdf encrypt software

Part 2: Why We don’t Select Adobe Acrobat?

Adobe Acrobat is the software that originally supported PDF files. Although it can create and encrypt PDF files, many useful and easy replacement applications are published.
First, Adobe Acrobat is not cheap. If you merely want to encrypt PDF files, it is not cost-effective to pay for the full version of Adobe Acrobat.

Besides, Acrobat is not safe enough. Many online tools and software can crack the PDF files encrypted by Adobe Acrobat, such as:

PDFCrack
how to password protect a pdf file without acrobat
PDF Password Remover
how to password protect a pdf file without acrobat
Since the encryption format is public, these tools can quickly crack the password.
If you want to ensure security, you can use the private encryption format offered by the third-party software. In this followings, we will talk about how to password protect a PDF file without Acrobat.

Part 3: How to Password Protect a PDF File without Acrobat?

Renee File Protector is the safe, professional encryption software. With the encryption technology AES-256, the software can encrypt, hide and completely remove the files. That can be the great guardian to your folders in Windows.
Renee File Protector - Overall Protection to Your Data

Easy to use Few clicks for whole folder encryption process.

Overall protection Users can hide, lock or get other protection to files in local disk or USB disk.

High Security Classified encryption method prevents data from leakage.

Compression transfer Support to compress and encrypt any files to secure the file transfer security.

Advanced self protection Provide self

Easy to use Few clicks for whole folder encryption process.

Overall protection Users can hide, lock or get other protection to files in local disk or USB disk.

High Security Classified encryption method prevents data from leakage.

Free TrialFree Trial 800 users have downloaded and protect data!

Lock PDF with Renee File Protector

1. Open Renee File Protector. Click on [Lock File] and then drag the target PDF file into the blank space.
lock gfl file with Renee File Protector
2. At this moment, the file is locked. Enter the password to open. Or, click on [Unlock] at the right side in the software.
unlock locked gfl files
Note: You can use the Self Protect function. If the user enter wrong password more than 5 times, the software can automatically send alarm notifications to e-mail and your account can be banned for 10 minutes. That can greatly reduce the risk of malicious attack.

Encrypt PDF with Renee File Protector

1. Open Renee File Protector. Then, under [Common], click on [Encrypt File]. Drag the target PDF file into the blank space. After that, encrypt the file to .gfl or .exe.
• .gfl: The .gfl file should be opened with Renee File Protector. But there is no size limit when we encrypt files.
• .exe: The .exe file can be directly decrypted without Renee File Protector. But the file should be 4GB or less.
password protect files and folder with folder encryption software
2. Select the storage destination and save the file.
encrypt to gfl in renee file protector lenovo data leakage
use renee file protector to encrypt the file as exe
3. Set the passcode to encrypt the file.
set password for glf file with renee file protector
4. Next time, enter the correct passcode to decrypt the PDF file.
enter the correct password to open gfl in renee file protector
open encrypted exe with renee file protector

Part 4: How to Encrypt Files with Renee SecureSilo?

Renee SecureSilo is the encryption software that encrypts and hides files. User can create the virtual disk to encrypt files with the advanced AES-256 technology. The virtual disk is safe enough to save lots of PDF files.
Renee SecureSilo – Encrypt Confidential Data

Encrypt files in seconds Encrypt files with virtual encrypted disk and whole process can be finished in 1 second.

User friendly Concise interface helps users master the software in short time.

High Security AES256 encryption algorithm helps Renee Seecure Silo encrypt files confidentially.

Encrypt any Data Support to encrypt images, videos, Office documents and software.

Overall Data Protection Solution Protect data in USB disk/hide/disguise files/ Password wallet.

Easy to use Few clicks for whole encryption process.

User friendly Concise interface helps users master the software in short time.

Encrypt any Data Support to encrypt images, videos, Office documents and software.

Free TrialFree Trial 800 users have downloaded and protect data!
1. Open Renee SecureSilo. Click on [Encrypt Files] – [Create Silo]. Then, name for the silo and set the storage destination. Then, click on [Next] to go on.
create a virtual disk in renee secure silo
name for the disk and set the storage position in renee secure silo
2. Set the passcode.
set a new password for the virtual disk in renee secure silo
3. Next time, enter the correct passcode to open the created silo. Select [Read-Write] or [Read Only] to view the files.
open encrypted silo with renee securesilo
4. Place the files into the silo to encrypt.
place sensitive file in silo about how to password protect a folder in windows 7
5. After that, click on [Close Silo] to encrypt these files.
close the silo in dropbox folder in renee securesilo
6. Enter the passcode to decrypt the silo.
click to open silo

Part 5: How to Encrypt PDF Files with WinZip?

How to password protect a PDF file without Acrobat? WinZip is the powerful and easy-to-use file manager. You can also use this software to compress and encrypt PDF files.
1. Add the target file into the software and then enable the encryption function. Next, set a password for the file.
2. Next time, enter the password to decompress and decrypt the file.
Limit: Many online tools and crackers can crack the password generated by this application. It is not safe in fact.