Encrypt PDF files with industry-standard AES protection. Secure contracts, financial records, and confidential documents. Recipients need the password to access—works in any PDF reader.
Not every document should be openly accessible. Contracts contain confidential terms. Financial statements reveal sensitive numbers. Medical records include private health information. HR documents contain personal data.
Email isn't secure—messages can be forwarded, accounts can be compromised, attachments can be intercepted. Password-protecting PDFs adds a security layer. Even if the file falls into wrong hands, contents remain inaccessible without the password.
For compliance with regulations like HIPAA, GDPR, and SOC 2, encryption of sensitive documents is often required. Password-protected PDFs provide documented security measures for audits and compliance reviews.
Open the PDF you want to protect in ScanLens. This can be a scanned document, an imported PDF, or a file from your library. Preview the document to confirm it's the correct file.
Navigate to PDF Tools and select "Password Protect" or "Encrypt PDF." The password setup interface appears, ready for you to create your security credentials.
Enter a password and confirm it. Use a strong password—mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. The stronger the password, the more secure the encryption.
The app encrypts your document and saves the protected PDF. A lock icon indicates protection is active. Share the document and communicate the password through a separate channel.
ScanLens uses AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) for PDF protection. This is the same encryption algorithm used by banks, government agencies, and secure communication systems worldwide. AES is considered unbreakable with current technology when using strong passwords.
Encrypted PDFs work in any standard PDF reader—Adobe Acrobat, Apple Preview, Chrome PDF viewer, and mobile PDF apps. The password prompt appears automatically when opening the protected document.
All encryption happens locally on your iPhone. Your document content and password are never transmitted to external servers. The encryption process is completely private and works offline.
Contract terms are confidential between parties. Password protect before sending via email. Share the password via phone call or separate message—never in the same email as the document.
Bank statements, investment reports, and tax documents contain account numbers and financial details. Encrypt before sharing with accountants or financial advisors.
HIPAA requires protection of personal health information. Encrypt medical records, test results, and health summaries before electronic transmission.
Employment contracts, salary information, and performance reviews contain sensitive personal data. HR departments should encrypt these documents when sharing electronically.
Competitive pricing and proprietary methodologies in proposals should be protected. Encrypt before sending to prospective clients to prevent unauthorized sharing.
Weak passwords can be guessed or cracked. Use at least 12 characters with a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. Avoid dictionary words, names, or obvious patterns like "123456."
Never include the password in the same email as the document. If the email is intercepted, both document and password are compromised. Share passwords via phone, text message, or a separate email.
Don't reuse passwords across documents. If one password is compromised, other documents remain secure. Consider using a password manager to generate and store unique passwords.
Store unprotected copies of your own documents in a secure location. If you forget a password, the encrypted version is permanently inaccessible. Your secure backup ensures you never lose access to your own files.
| Method | Protection Level | Recipient Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Password-Protected PDF | Strong (AES encryption) | Enter password to open |
| Encrypted Email | Strong | Requires compatible email client |
| Secure Link | Medium (link can be shared) | Click link, enter password |
| Zip with Password | Medium-Strong | Extract with password |
| No Protection | None | Open directly |
Password-protected PDFs offer the best balance of strong security and universal accessibility. Recipients don't need special software—just the password.
Open the PDF in ScanLens, go to PDF Tools, and select Password Protect. Enter and confirm your password—use a strong combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. The app creates an encrypted PDF that requires the password to open in any PDF reader.
ScanLens uses industry-standard AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) encryption for PDF password protection. AES is the gold standard for data encryption, used by banks, government agencies, and security-conscious organizations worldwide.
Yes, password-protected PDFs created by ScanLens use standard PDF encryption compatible with any PDF reader—Adobe Acrobat, Apple Preview, Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and mobile PDF apps. Recipients simply enter the password when prompted.
If you forget the password, the encrypted PDF cannot be opened—there's no password recovery or backdoor. This is by design for security. Always store passwords securely (in a password manager) and keep unprotected copies of important documents in a secure backup location.
Yes, if you know the password, you can open the protected PDF and save it without protection. This creates an unprotected copy while keeping the original encrypted version. You cannot remove protection without knowing the password.
Download ScanLens free and encrypt your first PDF in seconds. Industry-standard AES protection, works in any PDF reader, all processing on your device.