How to Secure Credit Card Data Submitted Through a PDF Form
Question details
The user is looking for the safest method to collect sensitive credit card information using fillable PDF forms distributed to multiple people.
- Product
- PDF Forms
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Distributing fillable PDF forms to clients or customers to collect payment details and processing the returned data.
- Observed behavior
- Needing a highly secure, compliant workflow to prevent data breaches when collecting credit card numbers via PDF.
Familiarize yourself with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) requirements, as improperly handling credit card data can result in severe legal consequences and fines.
Implement a Secure Web-Based Form Submission Workflow
Avoid email-based PDF workflows completely. Instead, configure the PDF form to submit data directly to a secure, PCI-compliant web server.
Emailing PDF forms that contain sensitive credit card numbers is a major security vulnerability and directly violates standard industry compliance requirements. Intercepted or compromised email accounts can expose plain-text financial data, leading to severe data breaches.
To protect both your organization and your customers, the data collection must bypass email entirely. The safest approach is routing form submissions directly from the PDF document to a secure web server equipped with an encrypted payment processing system.
Ensure your PDF form does not contain any instructions asking users to save the document and attach it to an email, nor any 'mailto:' submission buttons.
Using a PDF editor, insert a Push Button into your form. In the button properties, set the action to 'Submit a form' and enter the secure, HTTPS-encrypted URL provided by your payment gateway.
Set up your backend web server to receive the incoming PDF form data through an encrypted SSL/TLS connection.
Work with a certified cybersecurity or IT professional to verify that your data collection endpoint integrates with a PCI-compliant system, ensuring no credit card data is stored unencrypted on your servers.
Create Secure Fillable Forms with WPS Office
WPS Office provides professional PDF tools to create interactive, fillable forms. You can easily add text fields and secure submit buttons that route sensitive data directly to your organization's encrypted web servers without relying on insecure email attachments.
- 1. Open WPS PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your existing PDF document, or create a new blank PDF.
- 2. Access the Form tools: Navigate to the 'Form' tab located in the top ribbon to reveal the interactive form controls.
- 3. Insert a Push Button: Click on 'Push Button' and draw the button onto your PDF page where users will submit their data.
- 4. Configure secure submission: Right-click the button and select 'Properties'. Go to the 'Actions' tab, choose 'Submit a form', and enter your secure HTTPS server URL to ensure safe data transmission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a password-protected PDF to email credit card details safely?
No. While PDF password encryption adds a layer of security to the file itself, transmitting credit card numbers via an email-based workflow is a violation of Payment Card Industry (PCI) requirements. You must use a secure web server connection instead.
How do I make a PDF form submit data directly to a website?
You can add a form submission button using a PDF editor like WPS PDF. By adding a 'Push Button' and changing its Action properties to 'Submit a form', you can point the button to a specific HTTPS URL configured by your web developer or payment processor.
What happens if I collect credit card data via email?
Collecting credit card information via insecure methods like email exposes you and your clients to a high risk of identity theft. If discovered by your payment processor or if a breach occurs, you could face significant financial fines and the permanent loss of your merchant account privileges.
