The unauthorized sharing of documents is a persistent problem that many businesses face today. Whether you’re an ebook publisher, an enterprise with proprietary information, or a company seeking to protect trade secrets, preventing unauthorized distribution is critical. For years, the most common attempts to prevent copying have been unsuccessful, leaving businesses to turn to two main methods:
- Making copied files useless to unauthorized users (typically through encryption).
- Using deterrents like PDF stamping to discourage unauthorized sharing.
What is PDF Stamping?
PDF stamping involves adding an image or text onto a PDF document, either before or after sending it. This could be a simple stamp like “Approved” or “Confidential,” as well as custom stamps including “Do not distribute” or a user’s name, email, and date and time of viewing or printing. Stamps can serve a variety of purposes, such as showing when a document was reviewed or adding extra security.
Is PDF Stamping Effective?
Stamps can indeed be effective at deterring unauthorized distribution. The idea is that if a document is easily traceable back to the original recipient, they will be less likely to share it unlawfully. However, for PDF stamping to truly be effective, it must be done in such a way that the stamps cannot be easily removed. If a user can easily edit or delete the stamp using standard PDF editing tools, it defeats the purpose.
The Problem with Adobe Acrobat-Based PDF Stamping
Although Adobe Acrobat DC includes password-based editing restrictions, it does not offer sufficient protection against stamp removal. This is due to critical flaws in Adobe’s security handler that have been known for years. The reality is that stamps added using Adobe Acrobat can easily be deleted using free online tools or PDF editors.
How to Remove a PDF Stamp in Adobe Acrobat
Removing a PDF stamp in Adobe Acrobat is simple:
- If the PDF has editing restrictions, upload it to a PDF permissions remover tool.
- Download the unprotected version and open it in Adobe Acrobat or any other PDF editor.
- Press “Edit PDF,” select the stamp field, and press “Delete” on your keyboard.
- Save the PDF without the stamp.
As demonstrated, PDF stamps added with Adobe Acrobat or other similar tools can be easily removed, which renders them ineffective as a true deterrent.
How to Permanently Stamp a PDF with Dynamic Information
To add a stamp that cannot be removed, you need a more robust solution than Adobe Acrobat. Enter VeryPDF DRM Protector—a dedicated PDF protection tool that safeguards your PDFs and prevents the removal of stamps through encryption and licensing. VeryPDF DRM Protector ensures that documents are locked to specific devices, preventing unauthorized copying and distribution.
How to Add a Stamp to a PDF with VeryPDF DRM Protector
VeryPDF DRM Protector provides two methods for adding dynamic stamps to your PDFs:
- Stamp your PDF using Adobe or another tool and then protect it with VeryPDF DRM Protector to prevent stamp removal.
- Add a custom stamp directly within VeryPDF DRM Protector that automatically updates with dynamic information, such as the recipient’s name, email, company, and the date and time of document viewing or printing.
Creating a Permanently Stamped PDF with VeryPDF DRM Protector
Follow these steps to add a dynamic stamp to your PDF using VeryPDF DRM Protector:
- Upload your PDF file to https://drm.verypdf.com/online/ and select “Make Secure PDF.”
- Open the “View Watermarks” or “Print Watermarks” tab, depending on where you want to place the stamp (view or print).
- For a text watermark, check the “Add Text Watermark” box and input your custom text such as “Confidential, Do Not Distribute” or “Draft.”
- For dynamic watermarks, select the icon to add variables like the user’s name, email, or the date and time. These will populate dynamically when the document is viewed or printed.
- Change the font, size, and color of the watermark by pressing the “Aa” icon.
- Choose the watermark position, adjust the transparency, and optionally add an image watermark (such as a “Confidential” logo).
- Press “Publish” to encrypt your document and apply the permanent stamp.
The result will be a PDF document that is stamped with permanent information, and the stamp cannot be removed with standard PDF editing tools.
Overcoming PDF Stamping Limitations
While PDF stamping can be a deterrent, it is only effective if it cannot be easily removed. Additionally, users must be motivated to avoid sharing documents that are traceable back to them. Stamping can be labor-intensive if done manually, especially when distributing documents at scale. The key is to automate the stamping and protection process to save time and reduce costs.
What to Look for in PDF Stamping Software
To ensure your PDF stamping solution is effective, look for the following features:
- Effective anti-editing, screenshotting, and copy-paste controls to stop stamps from being bypassed or removed.
- Dynamic stamping, allowing automatic population of variables like user name, email, and date/time of viewing.
- The ability to lock PDFs to specific devices, preventing unauthorized sharing.
- The ability to prevent PDF printing to avoid printed copies from being scanned and edited.
- Separate stamps for digital and printed copies to maintain security in both formats.
Why Choose VeryPDF DRM Protector
VeryPDF DRM Protector goes beyond basic PDF stamping by offering permanent security that not only prevents stamps from being removed but also provides control over how your PDF documents are used. With features such as:
- Dynamic stamps that automatically populate with user details and the date/time.
- DRM controls to prevent screenshots, editing, copying, pasting, and printing.
- Locking PDFs to specific devices, IP addresses, and locations.
- Document expiration controls, such as fixed dates or the number of opens/prints.
- The ability to revoke access to specific users at any time.
- Tracking document usage and detecting misuse.
- Automating PDF protection and user account creation.
Take a free trial online and see how you can protect your PDF documents with permanent stamping and security that can’t be bypassed.
FAQs
Can I add a date and time stamp on Adobe PDF documents?
While Adobe allows you to add a date and time stamp, it is ineffective because it uses JavaScript, which can easily be disabled by users. Additionally, users can remove the stamp with standard PDF editing tools.
How can I remove a date stamp from PDF documents?
To remove a date stamp, open the PDF in a PDF editor, select the stamp field, and press “Delete” on your keyboard.
How to time-stamp a digital document?
The best method is to convert it to PDF format and use VeryPDF DRM Protector, which does not rely on JavaScript and ensures the time stamp remains permanent.
How to date stamp multiple PDF files?
VeryPDF DRM Protector allows you to easily apply date stamps to multiple PDFs, preventing users from bypassing protections like saving or converting the file.