pdf encryption

[buss]

I'd like to get the chance to defend my thread (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=32146) that was closed by a moderator.

In that thread I was discussing the impossibility of cracking the encryption on a pdf and stating that neither FIRST nor Chief Delphi has anything to worry about when it comes to someone cracking the encryption on the pdfs. The thread was merely meant to be educational and to discuss the encryption scheme.

Seriously, you don't need to worry about someone cracking the files (as I pointed out in that thread, it is impossible to crack it with current technology and has never been done before). I'd appreciate it if the thread was reopened and people realized that I am not trying to cheat or to actually crack the files, I merely enjoy discussion and encryption theory.

[Joe Johnson]

I agree. You made a pretty good case for cracking's difficulty. To be honest, the real details of the difficulties of cracking this are beyond the grasp of most of us, but I, personally, thought your thread was okay. It was closed before I got a chance to comment.

I know a lot of folks will argue that I am now talking out of both sides of my hat, but I don't see it that way. The discussions last year were different in my view.

To be honest, I am very happy to see that FIRST decided to release them again this year, despite the heat they took. It was a case of doing the right think even though it may not make their life easier.

It is a good sign.

Here's to more good signs from FIRST... ...now if they can only get the Game right this year (now THERE's a topic that you don't hear discussed much on ChiefDelphi.com ;-)

Joe J.

[Elgin Clock]

I believe it was not your post, but rather post #2 that led to the closing of that thread..

That was the concesus of the members of a chat I am in..


That said,

There was a point brought up in a post last year, that said it was a pain to open an (encrypted) pdf file many times, and type in the password.

There are actually softwares that will decrypt the file and save it as a "normal" pdf file, once you DO KNOW the pdf permission password.

This may not be of use to some, but to those who don't want to re-download the new unencrypted files, after kickoff, here is the link to a software that will open it (after the password is known) and resave it automatically as a unencrypted file.

Trial Program: 100 Uses
http://www.verypdf.com/pwdremover/pwdremover.exe

Help file - Screen Shots:
http://www.verypdf.com/pwdremover/document/help.htm

I tried this on the Test File, after typing in the known password (2005DecryptTest) and it worked like a charm.
By the way, more than likely, the FIRST PDF's will be changed frequently, and you may have to re-download a new PDF anyways.
But.. Whatever.