Joe,

I agree with your argument.  Maybe this would do (for Windows).

https://pdfencrypt.net/

Free and open-source.  Just feed it the PDF and a password and mail the file.  The recipient can use free, Adobe Reader (and many other PDF readers -- possibly Chrome/Firefox?) to decrypt and display it.

Erich


On Thursday, April 6, 2023 at 11:05, Joe Hourclé eloquently inscribed:

>> 
>> On Apr 6, 2023, at 10:43 AM, Hammer, Erich F <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> 
>> Charles,
>> 
>> Sharing encrypted files is not a trivial problem that can be resolved without
> third-party software.  It sounds like you want to create a self-encrypted file
> that the recipient can just double-click, enter the password, and see/use.
> Here are a couple sites arguing that is not a good choice:
>> 
>> https://forum.axcrypt.net/blog/avoid-self-decrypting-files/
>> https://www.articsoftpgp.com/exe_encryption.htm
> 
> Many of the arguments against self-decrypting files are the same as the self-
> extracting archives from the 90s/2000s.  You have to trust something that
> was downloaded, and it’s limited to work on only a single operating system
> that it was designed for.
> 
> The advantage of the PDF (non-envelope) approach is that the file is read by
> a reader application, so you’re not downloading something new that you
> have to trust.  But what I like about it is that you don’t need to decrypt the
> file for the reader program to then read, so it’s always stored on the disk
> encrypted, and there’s less chance of someone being sloppy and leaving an
> unencrypted version sitting around.
> 
> I went to search for free PDF encryption tools, and it looks like Adobe has a
> website that will do it… it’s HTTPS, so the file should be transferred
> encrypted at all times, but you will have to trust Adobe to not peek or save
> what you sent:
> 
> https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/online/password-protect-pdf.html
> 
> -Joe
> 
> Sent from a mobile device with a crappy on screen keyboard and obnoxious
> "autocorrect"