The strength of PDF protection depends on password quality. Weak passwords can be guessed; strong passwords are virtually unbreakable.
Why Password Strength Matters
Brute Force Attacks
Attackers try every possible password combination. Simple passwords fall quickly.
Dictionary Attacks
Attackers try common words and phrases. "password123" fails instantly.
Educated Guessing
Personal information (birthdays, names) makes passwords predictable.
Password Strength Guidelines
Length
- Minimum: 8 characters
- Good: 12 characters
- Strong: 16+ characters
Complexity
Include:
- Uppercase letters (A-Z)
- Lowercase letters (a-z)
- Numbers (0-9)
- Symbols (!@#$%^&*)
Randomness
Avoid:
- Dictionary words
- Personal information
- Common patterns (123456, qwerty)
Password Examples
| Password | Strength | Issue |
|---|---|---|
| password | Terrible | Dictionary word |
| Password123 | Weak | Common pattern |
| MyDog2024 | Moderate | Contains personal info |
| 7Gx$mK9@pL2! | Strong | Random, complex |
| DapperElephant$72Blue | Very Strong | Long passphrase |
Passphrase Option
Instead of random characters, use passphrases:
- 4+ random words
- Easy to remember
- Hard to guess
Example: CorrectHorseBatteryStaple47!
Creating Strong Passwords
Method 1: Random Generator
Use a password generator tool. Maximum randomness.
Method 2: Modified Passphrase
- Choose 4 random words.
- Add a number.
- Add a symbol.
- Mix capitalization.
Method 3: Sentence Transformation
Take a sentence and transform it:
- "I love coffee in the morning!" →
1L0veC0ff33!nTh3M0rn!ng
Managing PDF Passwords
- Store in a password manager
- Don't reuse across documents
- Change if you suspect compromise
- Communicate securely to recipients
Using Rune with Strong Passwords
- Open Rune's Protect PDF.
- Upload your PDF.
- Enter a strong password (12+ characters, mixed types).
- Protect and download.
Conclusion
Strong passwords are the foundation of PDF security. Take time to create proper passwords for Rune's Protect PDF protection.