How to Lock a Topaz Electronic Signature in Acrobat Reader
Question details
User needs to lock a document after signing it with a Topaz signature pad to prevent the signature from being right-clicked and removed.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Reader DC
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Securing a completed PDF document against unauthorized edits after applying a pad-based electronic signature.
- Observed behavior
- Users can currently right-click the electronic signature field and clear the signature after the document has been signed.
Ensure that your Topaz signature pad software is up to date and check if you have a digital ID or certificate installed, as locking a PDF permanently often requires certificate-based signing.
Apply a Certificate-Based Digital Signature
Use Acrobat's certificate-based digital signature tools to cryptographically seal the document, which locks the file and invalidates it if changes are made.
A standard pad-based electronic signature simply acts as a visual stamp or form fill. Because it lacks cryptographic binding, the software allows it to be cleared. To make it permanent, you must apply a digital certificate that locks the document.
Complete your standard signing workflow using the Topaz signature pad to place the visual signature on the PDF.
In Acrobat Reader DC, navigate to 'Tools' in the top menu and select 'Certificates' to open the digital signature options.
Click 'Digitally Sign', drag a box near your Topaz signature, and select your digital ID. If you do not have one, follow the prompts to create a new self-signed digital ID.
In the signing dialog box, check the option that says 'Lock document after signing' before entering your password and saving the file.
Restrict Document Editing with a Password
Apply a permissions password to restrict all editing, preventing anyone without the password from right-clicking or clearing form fields.
Sign and Lock PDFs Seamlessly with WPS Office
If you are looking for an intuitive way to manage PDF security, WPS Office offers a comprehensive PDF toolkit. You can easily insert handwritten or electronic signatures and immediately apply permissions passwords to lock the document, preventing any unauthorized removal or modifications.
- 1. Open your PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open the PDF document that needs to be signed and locked.
- 2. Insert Your Signature: Navigate to the 'Fill & Sign' or 'Protect' tab, click on 'Sign', and insert your electronic or Topaz-generated signature.
- 3. Access Encryption Settings: Click on 'Encrypt' under the Protect tab to open the document security settings.
- 4. Set Editing Password: Enable the 'Set password for editing and extracting' option and enter a secure password.
- 5. Save to Lock: Save the document. The signature is now locked, and anyone trying to clear or modify it will be prompted for the password.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can an electronic signature be deleted in Adobe Acrobat?
A basic electronic signature acts like an image stamp or form annotation. Without applying document restrictions or a cryptographic digital signature, these stamps are not permanently embedded and can be selected and deleted by the user.
Does a Topaz signature pad automatically lock a PDF?
No. A Topaz signature pad captures the biometric data and image of the signature, but the PDF software (like Acrobat) determines whether the document is locked. You must configure the software to restrict editing after the signature is applied.
Can I lock a PDF after signing without buying a digital certificate?
Yes. You can use the built-in password protection features in Acrobat or WPS Office to restrict document editing. By setting a permissions password, you prevent users from removing signatures without needing to purchase a third-party certificate.
What is the difference between an electronic signature and a digital signature?
An electronic signature is a digital representation of a handwritten signature. A digital signature, however, uses cryptographic certificates to authenticate identity and seals the document to secure it against any subsequent tampering.
