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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"