Unlock PDF — Privacy

Privacy model, limits, and safety notes for Unlock PDF.

Unlock PDF privacy model

This tool is classified as heavy workload and runs in Cloud Optional mode. Current status: beta (limited). Release note: Unlock runs as authorized local rebuild for compatible files. Advanced encrypted modes may fail.

What this does

  • Applies the selected transformation to the document or exported output.
  • Keeps processing local in browser when marked On-device.
  • Uses monthly local counters for usage quotas.

What this does not protect

  • It does not remove names or sensitive content visible in document text or images.
  • It does not guarantee legal anonymity or endpoint compromise protection.
  • For hybrid tools, privacy depends on explicit cloud opt-in when enabled.
  • Cannot decrypt PDFs that require a user password to open. The tool has no password input — it simply re-parses and re-saves.
  • AES-256 encrypted PDFs with user passwords will fail completely. There is no brute-force or cracking capability.
  • Some PDFs with unusual encryption handlers (non-standard, DRM) will fail to load.

Safe workflow defaults

  • Verify output manually before sharing.
  • Use security guidance at /security for higher-risk scenarios.
  • Keep original and transformed files separated to avoid accidental leaks.