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Encrypting PDFs so web search engines can't cull info

Forum Index > Security > Encrypting PDFs so web search engines can't cull info
2009-01-09 07:49:36
ew4ac
Registered: Jan 9 2009
Posts: 2

I'll admit I'm a newbie with what's probably an ultra basic question:

I'm looking for the EASIEST way to encrypt the info on PDF so that
anyone surfing the web can still open/read it but the search engines
can't cull the info. Is there anyway to block JUST the search engines
(or signal to them to pass over the doc)?

(Our organization has a newsletter where personal names are mentioned
and we just want to give the folks their privacy.)

Thanks in advance.
EW

My Product Information:
Acrobat Pro 8.1.2, Windows
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2009-01-09 09:42:25
#1
Rowan
Registered: Aug 12 2008
Posts: 11
I think the only way that encrypting a PDF would help to stop Google from indexing it would be to include an open password, much in the same way that people can put open passwords on web pages if they don't want Google to access them. Using an open password is your safest bet, but potentially an unusable option for you since every person who wants to view the PDF would need to know the password.

The more usable, but weaker options, are things like using the robots.txt file to block Google from accessing a particular directory or from indexing PDFs on your site. The problem with these options is that some search engines don't respect the contents of your robots.txt file and index whatever they like.

Check out the below page for tips on how to avoid having your pages or PDFs indexed.

http://www.antezeta.com/avoid-search-engine-indexing.php

PDF News, Articles, Tips and Rants at 4xPDF

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2009-01-18 15:53:21
#2
fmcburney
Registered: Jan 18 2009
Posts: 1
Hi, Has anyone ever tried blocking ROBOTS from finding a PDF by placing the meta name in a PDF's properties? If so, how exactly?
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