PDF forms security

I have created a form for my clients to order their photos for different events.
They can submit their form via email.
My concern is how secure is their personal information, including their credit card?
They tell me they are concern because the form comes from an unsecured site. I can see that the security is an issue when they submit their order.
Any help would be appreciated.
Ana - Fotografica

Ana Pedrero wrote:
My concern is how secure is their personal information, including their credit card?
The short answer: Not very secure. PDF security can be overridden quite easily and your email can be intercepted as well.
In this case, a secure server is the ONLY way to go.

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PDF Form Security

We have created a pdf form which our web server uses to collect ticket information from our ticketing software and populate the corresponding fields on the pdf form. The form is then attached to an email and sent to the ticket purchaser so they can print their eticket at home, and it includes a barcode which then gets scanned at the entrance of the performance venue. (i.e. Eticket or Print At Home)
However, we have just discovered that the ticket element fields can be edited by the end user when they receive it. They cannot save the file, but they can print the form with the changes they make. We are concerned that users may try to change their seats or performance time. I have tried to lock the form with a password, but then that prevents the webserver from importing the data into the pdf form from the ticketing software.
Any ideas how to allow the server to fill in the fields with information, but then lock the pdf form for editing when it is sent to the end user/purchaser?

There really isn't any actual secure way of doing this with Acrobat.
You really can't even keep them from saving the PDF. In fact, by nature, it is already saved to their hard drive elsewise they wouldn't be able to view it.
I would suggest looking in to a Digital Rights Management solution. That is as close to secure as you are going to get but it's very expensive.

PDF Form Security Settings

How can I allow both filling in form fields AND inserting/replacing pages in a secure pdf?

Password security will not allow both those actions.
Setting up security policies

Making a PDF Form secure for emailing

I have created an enrollment form with LiveCyle. The employer will send the application to a new employee for them to fill out and they would like it emailed back to them. I tried the submit button but that doesn't work because while the information they input is received in a .xml file the electronic signature does not transfer which is required. Can I set it up encrypted so that only the information that is input is encrypted? I am VERY new to creating forms and using LiveCycle. Thank you!

The way I think you are trying it in Reader won't give you want you need. If you want to hide the data in the XML email submission (from email submit button), you need the newer capabilities in Designer 10.x to encrypt the submission. The XML contents will look like this after it is encrypted:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<xfa:data xmlns:xfa="http://www.xfa.org/schema/xfa-data/1.0/"
><EncryptedData xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#" Id="encrypteddata_2" Type="http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#Element"
><EncryptionMethod Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#aes256-cbc"
/><KeyInfo xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#"
><EncryptedKey xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#"
><EncryptionMethod Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#rsa-1_5"
/><KeyInfo xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#"
><X509Data
><X509Certificate
>MIICRTCCAa6gAwIBAgIKNvzDsAiaeyPYFDANBgkqhkiG9w0BAQUFADBTMREwDwYDVQQDEwhKb2hu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</X509Certificate
></X509Data
></KeyInfo
><CipherData
><CipherValue
>ADk2Kxut+M84Pi4B1ZC9znKFCz2rAfHYZNZ76fWK/eRE5QMC0NhCnQ5gFfrOLU9Wl/5FOTZMwQab
F1PjdKaVys0TjOR51HH1A6D/ZUf7baBQ1XnKRW5kQR8xePwwDaRoyBopF8+XeWA6d8yRXvyZdLJa
Hju2/gUR/M2HArKCtso=</CipherValue
></CipherData
></EncryptedKey
></KeyInfo
><CipherData
><CipherValue
>uiKSewcq2Of8cIk7hRnjFmOpTo+XxN6AZM5PyT+k2d1mUuBlbJWxCk37EFiwVHRH5n4oOQkuFFhv
+jopOPQLbthkdhiDzWHmAJhstaPcbvA=</CipherValue
></CipherData
><EncryptionProperties
><EncryptionProperty xfa:processingRule="replacementContent"
><form1
/></EncryptionProperty
></EncryptionProperties
></EncryptedData
><signatures
><Signature xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#" Id="datasignature_2"
><SignedInfo
><CanonicalizationMethod Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2001/10/xml-exc-c14n#WithComments"
/><SignatureMethod Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#rsa-sha1"
/><Reference URI="#idbfea09cc-7f34-11e1-9c29-002710682eb5" Type="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#SignatureProperties"
><Transforms
><Transform Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2001/10/xml-exc-c14n#WithComments"
/></Transforms
><DigestMethod Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#sha1"
/><DigestValue
>O9E5XR6E+tkicSPa6HTZgkE9qhE=</DigestValue
></Reference
><Reference URI=""
><Transforms
><Transform Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2002/06/xmldsig-filter2"
><XPath xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2002/06/xmldsig-filter2" xmlns:dsig="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#" Filter="intersect"
>here()/ancestor::dsig:Signature[1]/../..//. |
here()/ancestor::dsig:Signature[1]/../..//@* |
here()/ancestor::dsig:Signature[1]/../..//namespace::*</XPath
></Transform
><Transform Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#enveloped-signature"
/><Transform Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2001/10/xml-exc-c14n#WithComments"
/></Transforms
><DigestMethod Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#sha1"
/><DigestValue
>v9suUKmCN2M3JeTTr2y5/L6ZY64=</DigestValue
></Reference
></SignedInfo
><SignatureValue
>DYCW4mlxVOr+EmleCo56aohSGw93gtk2Wc5Rb7zlB8ukTSC9lozQM1rGLv4GykpQ+Ln+XhKCzVqv
Z7jcISv2l+1rWWpBSyhve+szoWSoY90SEtPUwnJMwxeOy6fOyGx5MWCqVj6D308Pcu2dw7r3UMqc
i6rSWUezvsPjfCBrcW8=</SignatureValue
><KeyInfo
><X509Data
><X509Certificate
>MIICRTCCAa6gAwIBAgIKNvzDsAiaeyPYFDANBgkqhkiG9w0BAQUFADBTMREwDwYDVQQDEwhKb2hu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</X509Certificate
></X509Data
></KeyInfo
><Object
><SignatureProperties Id="idbfea09cc-7f34-11e1-9c29-002710682eb5"
><SignatureProperty Target="datasignature_2"
><PROP_Sig xmlns="http://ns.adobe.com/pdf/2006" type="cabinet"
><M type="text"
>D:20120405113353-04'00'</M
><Name type="text"
>John</Name
></PROP_Sig
></SignatureProperty
></SignatureProperties
></Object
></Signature
></signatures
></xfa:data
>
In the Designer version you have (8.2), you only have the capability to sign the data or the entire form, which will not hide its values in the XML file that gets sent.

PDF form with buttons opens up URL with security warning window

I have a short-lived process that renders PDF form with data merged. The data is in XML format.
The form buttons are assigned URL values when the form is opened. When I click on them,I get a Security warning prompting me to allow/block that site. When I click on 'Allow', I get a window of download statistics of the website that in the URL.
This would be annoying to the end user. How I do I suppress the Security warning window as well as the download statistics window before the PDF is opened ? Can this be done either at the process design, form design stage or using Java APIs ?
Thanks,
Jyothi

I have a short-lived process that renders PDF form with data merged. The data is in XML format.
The form buttons are assigned URL values when the form is opened. When I click on them,I get a Security warning prompting me to allow/block that site. When I click on 'Allow', I get a window of download statistics of the website that in the URL.
This would be annoying to the end user. How I do I suppress the Security warning window as well as the download statistics window before the PDF is opened ? Can this be done either at the process design, form design stage or using Java APIs ?
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Jyothi

Reader X - Getting Security Alert with a data filled PDF form

My site uses PDF forms that have their data filled in dynamically by the classic asp code on the site. Before Reader X version, they were filled and displayed without a problem. With Reader X they display the security warning: "Data from this site is blocked to avoid potential security risks....." and the Options button to trust the site. I get this even thoguh it's the same site they are on already and I'm using an SSL cert for all files and I'm also using a direct link to generate the PDF.
I know the user can just click the options and make the problem go away but many users seem unable to read and or panic when they see the alert.
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No, apart from creating a certified document, but the user would still have to add you as a trusted source. If a document could override this, it would be rather pointless to have it in the first place.

How to: Secure pdf form that is emailed and later uploaded

We have a pdf form that will be posted on our website. Local college/university faculty will link to the form on their websites or just give students the link to our page. Students will fill the form and it will be emailed to a faculty member from their specific school. The faculty member then needs to review the form and select candidates to present for an internship. At that point, they need to upload the form back to our server.
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Yeah I kinda figured that... Really too bad. Seems lke it should be possible somehow. Anyway, do you all have any suggestions about the best way to combine a static form that is really just text fields and such (that comments and markup tools can be used in) with another page that is sections of narrative that would need to be able to flow?
Or better yet, a way to draw lines on to a form without using the comment and markup function?
I like your idea about connecting two forms - but I need to keep the final product as simple as possible. Once the user fills it out, they would be to be able to submit it and it show up as one file, even if that is just a flat file. I don't expect you all to tell me how to do this, but it would be nice to know its possible before I commit to the project and research. Thanks in advance.

Edit a secure interactive PDF form without regenerating form?

I have a client who needs for me to make a minor change to a password-secured interactive PDF form we've created for her. I have the password, of course, but Adobe Acrobate won't let me know enter the password without first saving the form as a copy. This, however, strips all of the interactivity from the form. I don't want to have to redo all of the fields just to make this minor change, and I imagine I'm just missing the obvious method of entering the password.
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Thanks, Luke. They do. But then when I go to add the password security back to the document, I'm told:
You cannot change security on this document because the document enables extended features in Adobe Reader. You can save a copy without extended Reader features using File -> Save A Copy.
This, of course, takes me back to square one. I need to make the change but keep the same password protection (disabling the ability to edit the file) intact.

Password secured PDF forms

Can password secured PDF forms be filled out on mobile devices?
I've tried it on my iPhone and it doesn't appear that I can fill out the form. Wondering if it's just me or if other people are also not able to fill out secured PDF forms on mobile devices.

You can remove the security using Acrobat (not Reader) then use ExportPDF.

Editing secured fillable pdf forms

How do I edit a pdf form that is password protected?

These are forms that contain confidential personal health information and the organization's policy is to not allow users to edit and save this information on their computers. However, I have heard that some staff are able to unlock the form and edit and save, send by email to others.
I assume it's also the organization's policy that employees should not do this, and if they do they can/will be dismissed. If it's not, it should be.
For content that needs to be protected this way, regardless of what form it's in, you need to provide access control so that unauthorized access is not allowed/possible. This can be done for PDF content using digital rights management (DRM) technology, like that provided by Adobe's LiveCycle Rights Management product, but this is enterprise-level software with a price tag and other associated costs to match. Such software makes documents unreadable unless opened by an authorized user, and the security cannot be removed by Acrobat or anything else. If a document is in possession by an unauthorized recipient, they won't be able to open it. This is a simplification, but the point is it can be used in a HIPAA and similar types of regulatory compliant systems.

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I created a self-signed digital ID for both signature end data encryption.
Then I created a pdf form by using livecycle and put it on our website, and after users fill it in, they will click submit by email to submit the data.
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Thanks

This is my exact concern. I want to know that return email with xml data files are encrypted for confidentiality. Does anyone know how this is done?

Problem with the Travel Expenses PDF Form

Hi Experts,
We are facing a strange issue in our production system that the Travel Expenses PDF form is coming as a blank pop up when users raise a Travel Expenses request or try to see the form in 'My trips and Expenses'.
The strange thing is that it is happning for only 3 users in Production system only.We have confirmed that it is not a Desktop issue. We did not come across this earlier while 3500 users are using it for 9 months now.
The same problem is not repeated in Dev, Qua or even in Production for any other user.
The SAP Security team has also confirmed that all relevent authorisations have been given to effected users like other users for whom the same is working
Kindly help me with the same if you have encountered the same problem or can suggest something that may rectify the problem.
Help will be appreciated << Please do not offer points >>
Regards,
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Edited by: Rob Burbank on Sep 21, 2010 2:38 PM

Hi Siddharth,
Thanks for the reply.
We have checked that it is not a Desktop issue.
Also SAP Security team says that the effected users have been given the regular authorisations as given to other users using the same functionality.
As i mentioned it is not a problem with ADS as the same functionality is working fine for 3500 users for 9 months.
Regards,
-Amol Gupta

How to connect a PDF form to SQL server database through web service?

Hi,
I'm new to LiveCycle designer. I have designed a PDF form in LC designer ES2, which suppose to take a personnel number and retrieve the personnel information from a SQL server database. Currently its working fine with XML data and a search button, but I need to securly connect to a database through web service. I know how to connect to a wsdl file through designer. What I need is a wsdl file to connect the form to database. For this purpose, is there any WSDL code to use as the web service?
I really appreciate your help and advice.

Hi,
I'm new to LiveCycle designer. I have designed a PDF form in LC designer ES2, which suppose to take a personnel number and retrieve the personnel information from a SQL server database. Currently its working fine with XML data and a search button, but I need to securly connect to a database through web service. I know how to connect to a wsdl file through designer. What I need is a wsdl file to connect the form to database. For this purpose, is there any WSDL code to use as the web service?
I really appreciate your help and advice.

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No, it just opens up as a pdf fillable form, but I can't edit the fields? I changed the Security to "No Security" so I could make changes, but when I closed it and opened it back up the security says I can't make eidts.

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When the 'Submit' button is pressed on the form, is there a way to redirect to another web page after the data is submitted? (i.e. does the PDF have access to it's outer 'environment'?)
Are there any security issues submitting data using the PDF form as opposed to using a standard web form? (There may be sensitive data being submitted)
I'm not sure how they plan to handle the data that is submitted, but there are several options in the submitForm parameters - I am assuming that using the HTML option would submit the data in the same format as a web form would. Am I correct here?
Can the PDF be prevented from being downloaded or printed? This form should only be used to submit data to their server, not as a printed form.
Are there any other 'gotchas' that I need to look out for? Does anyone have a recommendation for a site which contains any tutorials or guidelines for using PDF forms online?

Thanks for the information.
Yes, I agree that there is less reason for it to be a PDF form (Actually, no real reason other than the original form already exists in PDF), but I am unfortunately in the position that my input in this project is not necessarily being considered (my company is following direct -and inconsistent- directions from the client, and I have no contact with the client to ask questions about what their actual needs are). I have been told to give the client the 'Tomato' that they are asking for, even though they are describing an 'Apple'.
The reason this form is not meant to be printed is that we have replaced the 'Signature' fields from the original form with checkboxes that the user must check to confirm they have 'signed' the document. If they are to print/fax/whatever the document, they should use the original form, not this one. And I am still trying to explain to them that this would be better served with an HTML web form, but I fear I am losing that battle.
I have brought up the fact that it is not 100% guaranteed that Acrobat will be available in the browser, although I can only guess that it is less than likely that anyone will not have some sort of PDF viewer available to their browser.
I will also mention that issues may arise if the file is not submitted from within the browser.

PDF forms security

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