Anyone know how to crack a locked pdf? :)

[geo]

Hi all,

I just had an interesting conversation with a particular counties registrar of voters office about why I was unable to copy data out of the Statement of Vote PDF. The attitude of this particular county seems to be that a Pdf in which data can be extracted is not desirable (they wouldn't tell me why... just that it was).

The gentleman on the phone seemed to get more to the point when I told him I wanted to do statistical analysis on the data present, but still tried to explain to me how undesirable it was to let the public have that much control over the contents. I explained to him that in doing a statistical analysis, it would be a tiresome effort to manually move the data over. He started to sympathize, but said the person I wanted to speak to was out of the office today. He took my number and said he would check a few other options, but likely this other person would be my only shot at getting the data in a manageable form.

We need not mention the county here, but it is a county Bev with BBV, and others like her have had some serious problems with. ;) Now, why would a county want to make sure people couldn't copy and paste data out of the only file with precinct level data???? Hmm.

Anyone have an idea how I can get the data out of that file? I can select the text, but it won't let me copy because of the document settings. I have a feeling they are going to stall me out, or understand my m.o. with the data before I have a chance at doing much more. I may need more docs later, so I am still trying to operate in casual mode with these folks.

Help?? :)

- George

[trotsky]

1. You could scan it and do character recognition...

I would imagine there's a utility or two out there that will crack it though.

[geo]

3. Is it reliable?

I would hate to be doing analysis on skewed data. It is a large county with lots-o-precincts. :) -G

[trotsky]

18. Well if you have the full version of Acrobat they have a plug-in

that character-scans PDF files:

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=1907

[geo]

2. btw, this is a PUBLIC doc and the crack is within my "right to access"

so don't worry about the legal stuff. ;) If you would rather Pm or e-mail me with the info, that is o.k. too. - G

[jhgatiss]

4. Tell them you want the data in a different format.

Tell them you want the data as a plain text or tab-delineated file. I think that is typical GEMS output so that shouldn't be an issue for them to cough up if they are using the seemingly ubiquitous GEMS tabulator.

[Pepper32]

7. Self Deleted

x

[geo]

9. I know. They should be a little more willing to put the data in a

tab or comma dilimited text file. A Pdf that is so locked up is ridiculous, but they seem sure that anything less is problematic.

Like I said before... this is a county Bev and BBV had major problems with (but please do not mention the county name in this thread).

[nashville_brook]

5. i'm an art director

and when i send things to the printer that are "locked" down, they can "unlock" them with their super-duper print shop version of Acrobat. so, PDF's aren't unchangeable.

whether you could extract the data in a form you can use is another issue. if they imported it the original document in DB form, you might be able to select it that way. otherwise you should at least be able to copy, paste to your clipboard, and copy into whatever DB you want to do one field at a time.

are you mac-based?

[geo]

12. nope... PC based.

But what you said about the method in... the text is selectable, but copy is disabled. It wasn't a scan; the font info is still there. If I can even get it into text form I can use a macro to clean up the data and then import it into either excel or filemaker. :) -G

[alpizzy]

14. Yes,

I work in print. We use Pit Stop to modify PDFs.

[geo]

24. Pit Stop... I need better software if I'm gonna keep playing web

detective... lol :) -G

[China_cat]

6. Do you have Acrobat?

If so, it should open it up for you with the editing features.

If you don't, maybe somebody you know does?

[geo]

13. I have reader 6 and it doesn't want to let me edit.

:) -G

[China_cat]

26. No, not the reader

The full Acrobat. I have v5 and would offer to see if it would crack it but v6 has been out long enough that that is probably the creator and 5 wouldn't even open it.

[geo]

38. any advice on how I could get the file to you or anyone else who

has a full version? The County called back during the discussion here (I wonder if they read DU) and said their IT guy says the full version will allow a copy/paste out of the file. :) -G

[China_cat]

45. you can email it to me

[e-mail]

I'll see if I can extract it for you.

[lucabrasi]

8. This may help

http://www.password-crackers.com/crack/guapdf.html

They have a demo version for "small files"

[geo]

27. Looks good, but this is a rather big file, plus it says the average...

time for a demo crack is about 1 week. :) Thanks though! - G

[lucabrasi]

36. One week is if decryption is required

There are different levels of protection with PDF files. What you are describing is not an encrypted document (requires a password to open file) but a document with a few restriction bits turned on.

Removing restrictions is instant (per their claims) but I can believe that as it is completely different from breaking strong encryption.

FWIW I'm a software engineer and have been creating encrypted PDFs for a project. The encrypted versions are pretty secure, but just adding restrictions is something else. Sorry I can't help, I just have code that encrypts or adds restrictions, nothing to remove...

[noamnety]

10. Is the document online somewhere?

I'd like to take a look at it.

If all else fails, I'd be happy to help transcribe it for you - maybe a transcriber and a separate proofreader could work.

[geo]

16. I'll Pm the link... but by transcribe, I hope you don't mean by hand!

Just the pages I am looking at are over 30, and they are fairly fine print! :) -G

[geo]

19. OMG! They disabled the link! Glad I downloaded the copy....

right now the link just directs you to registration data they are trying to hock for $395 a disk. I downloaded the SoV days ago now, but it is a rather large zip file. Should I try to e-mail it over? -G

[Pepper32]

11. Have you tried a conversion tool? Here is one...

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/access_onlinetools.html
Not sure how reliable this is, hope it helps.

[geo]

20. I'll check this out. Thanks!

:) -G

[skids]

15. send it to me.

I can probably get the data out.

[geo]

22. 7.69 MB Zip... are you o.k. with that?

:) -G

[skids]

39. Just fine.

I bow to no file. :-)

[texastoast]

17. PDF Addin

Called Paper Capture might help. What version of Adobe do you have?

[geo]

21. Reader 6.0

:) -G

[texastoast]

23. Is there a menu option called

Document?

That's where my Paper Capture is located. I'm in a customized environment. Check your Help and do an index search of "paper capture."

Any help?

If nothing else, you can pm me with the doc.

[cyn2]

50. I have Acro 6.0 and I've fiddled with cracking files. Where?

[texastoast]

58. Under Document

on my menu. However, it might be a specially purchased addin and my firm might have customized its location on the menu bar. Look under all the menu buttons and see if you have it. Also, check your Help file index with the search words "paper capture."

[OhMcNo]

25. PDF Security

I have looked at the guts of PDFs with security enabled. In the code it indicates that hacking the file is a violation of the DMCA. IIRC, the latest high-end tools (PitStop Professional) will not allow you to do anything with the file. If you can print and scan it though, I gather you could OCR it legally. I would double-check the numbers in the resulting file, though.

OCR software - http://www.abbyy.com has a free 14-day trial to convert from image to text. (Windows-only software)

Michael

[skids]

29. Well, DMCA only covers...

Distributing software that bypasses the code. Individuals are free to modify software so that it bypasses the code.

[OhMcNo]

37. From the Postscript code of a protected PDF file...

% Removing the following ten lines is illegal, subject to the Digital Copyright Act of 1998.
currentfile eexec
6ebb4949d640ad13b78a1bb8e40ddda64d5017a356a3e054d4e1051a6bef
<balance of security key...>

Don't know if it is enforceable...

[meisje]

28. You may be able to open it in Illustrator, PM me if you need it done

[geo]

31. I'll try Illustrator... brb

[geo]

33. Darn... don't have illustrator... just photoshop...

lol... shows you how often I use the software. :) -G

[OhMcNo]

34. Illustrator CS

Doesn't look like that will work. It will ask for a password if security is enabled. (just tested). Didn't check all settings - but even enabling copying of text, images, etc. in the PDF will not let AICS open it.

[geo]

30. SAID COUNTY JUST CALLED... their IT guy says I can get...

the data with a full version of adobe (all I have is reader). This is a 7MB plus document. Is there anyway I can pass it on to someone to open, make the data accessible somehow, and send it back? :) -G

[dzika]

32. Can you give us an example file

to play around with?

[geo]

35. I can give the actual file, but it is in a 7MB+ zip folder.

Maybe there is somewhere I can upload it to, or would e-mail handle it? :) -G

[dzika]

40. Geo - just sent upload info to you via email

n/t

[geo]

41. SOLVED. Thanks to everyone for helping! :) :)

Hi all,

A couple of kind hearted DUrs have the file now and I feel confident the data will be accessible. With the County's IT guy getting involved saying that a full version would allow a copy/paste, I think we are o.k. on this topic.

I just wanted to thank you all for coming to my aid with this frustrating file!!

Warmly,

George

[jamboi]

42. In case that doesn't work here's an idea. print & OCR scan it or

print screen it then print it and OCR scan it.

[geo]

44. Not a bad thought, but no OCR soft and am wondering about the...

integrity of the data. A couple of DUrs have offered to get the data out, but now I'm having a problem getting the e-mail sent (server rejects because file just barely exceeds my servers limit.. it is zipped to). Any ideas? :) -G

[geo]

43. ACTUALLY, NOT SOLVED QUITE YET.... e-mail server will not

handle the file size. Any ideas? :) -G

[skids]

46. do you know how to use FTP? n/t

[dzika]

48. Use FTP if you can or

you could also try to send it via an instant messenger (Yahoo, AOL)

[skids]

52. I do IRC you could DCC it n/t

[geo]

53. have AIM on now... ;)

:) -G

[cyn2]

51. How'd you get it?

[geo]

54. It was readily available for download through working links

just a couple days ago. Now the link isn't working. I saved a copy that day. ) -G

[skids]

47. Side topic -- since there are hackers here...

Look what just popped up in my weblog:

Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1; SV1; Lee County Property Appraiser's Office, Lee County, Florida; .NET CLR 1.0.3705; .NET CLR 1.1.4322)

...if it is state policy for all the county offices in Florida to have version strings in their browser software, we can examine our weblogs and see who's reading up on us...

(Oh I should mention this is a total cooincidence. The file they were getting was not related to elections.)

[mccoyn]

49. Print to file?

My idea is to get the Postscript printer driver from the Adobe website. That driver has an option to print to a file. You can then open that .ps file with Acrobat. I expect that the security flags will be lost while leaving the appearance of the document unchanged.

Driver: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=1500

[geo]

55. RESOVED! Thanks again to everyone here for helping! :) -G

:) -G

[FloridaCrat]

56. Sorry for the late reply, but you could try to open the file directly with

Excel. Once the data is in the spreadsheet, you can do your statistical analysis. I spent a few hours yesterday tearing my hair out on this too... Can you post a link to the file you were trying to open, so I can try this one too?

I don't know why the election files are in that format - must be to discourage those who are easily discouraged...

[lip-sink]

57. have all u need

george

write me at [e-mail] and i will reply with a 1-2 mb program with all you need.

best, lips

[geo]

59. DATA FROM SAID COUNTY NOW IN MY SPREADSHEET... :)

Thanks again to all those in this thread who helped me get to the data. :) -G