I was reading the SCORM 1.2 reference docs today. I wanted to copy a passage for my notes, but the PDF is password-protected and prevents anyone from copying text. (REALLY irritating, considering the ADL is a quasi-government organization and the docs should be open to all.)
What to do? Well, turns out there are at least two super easy ways to bypass the password protection: Upload it to Google Drive or import it to Evernote.
Google Drive
The Google Drive site includes a built-in PDF reader; when I opened the PDF in the web viewer, I was able to copy text freely. Better yet, I was able to save the PDF as an unlocked file by selecting “Print” then choosing “Save as PDF” in the print options.
Evernote
When dragging the file onto the Evernote app (Mac), the PDF shows up in a preview window. I was able to copy text freely. No need to save as a PDF since it’s already stored in Evernote!
Security, schmescurity
So I guess there’s no such thing as a secure PDF. I’m sure there are other services like to Google Drive and Evernote, and there are definitely other techniques for defeating protection, including screen captures, OCR, and the old fashioned approach of printing to paper then scanning the prints. If you truly need a document to be secure, don’t distribute it electronically.