PDF File: Remove Password Protection

Posted on 27/11/2020 by PeteLong

KB ID 0001719

Problem

My daughter had a file that was protected by a password, (it had sensitive personal information in it). She wanted to send this file to someone, but wanted to remove the password protection first.

I thought this would be easy, open it in Acrobat Reader, find the bit that says ‘password protect’ and untick it right? Well to enable that ‘feature’ (called the “protect feature”), you have to pay Adobe?

Tech Rant: I really don’t like Adobe, I don’t like their pay for things monthly, nothing works without you paying for it, we can do whatever we like and you chumps will pay for it attitude. I’ve stopped using Photoshop because now I can only ‘rent it’. Adobe Acrobat needs to update at least once every two days, (which it has since 1985 for some unfathomable reason!)

Solution

Microsoft is our saviour! (There’s a sentence I don’t use that often!) Open the offending file in Microsoft Edge browser. (I’m using a mac, but the process is identical on a Windows machine, (I know because I did it that way first!)

Enter the password.

Print > Change the Printer > Save as PDF > OK > This will save the current file as a PDF file and it wont be password protected!

WARNING: Don’t message me below and ask ‘what if I dont know the password?‘ I’m not here to teach you how to hack into password protected PDF files. Learn to use Google properly.

Stop Windows Asking For Password After Sleep / Standby

Posted on 05/12/2019 by PeteLong

KB ID 0001624

Problem

I’ve done a few posts that involve me demonstrating how to disable a security feature, and people have messaged me with a mix of disgust/distain/horror. But I’m sick and tired of all the machines on my test network getting locked while I’m dragged onto something else, they are test machines, with no live data on them, and there’s only me uses them anyway!

And some people just want to log on on a morning and not have to log on again, (Oh the security horror!) But let’s be honest Tom Cruise is not going to abseil down from the rafters to steal your order forms for spanners, or whatever mundane junk you have on your PC/laptop that no one other than you, and your office is bothered about.

Note: Don’t get this confused with Windows – Disable the ‘Lock Screen’

Solution

There are two policies that control this, one is in effect if your Windows machine is plugged in, the other takes over when you are running on battery power, you can disable password prompting for one or both.

Disable Password Prompt When Computer Wakes Up

You can see this on an individual machine (local policy) or you can create a domain computer policy, and enforce this on many/all Windows clients.

For Local Policy: Windows Key+R > gpedit.msc {Enter}
For Domain Policy: (On a domain controller) > Windows Key+R > gpmc.msc {Enter} > Create a new policy or edit one that’s linked to computer objects.

Disable When Plugged In

Navigate to;

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Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Power Management > Sleep Settings

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Locate ‘Require a password when a computer wakes (plugged in)‘ > Set to Disabled > Apply > OK > Close the policy editor.

Disable When On Battery Power

Navigate to;

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Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Power Management > Sleep Settings

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Locate ‘Require a password when a computer wakes (on battery)‘ > Set to Disabled > Apply > OK > Close the policy editor.

Then either wait or Windows – Forcing Domain Group Policy

Symantec AntiVirus Asks For Password During Uninstall

Posted on 17/11/2015 by Migrated

KB ID 0000894

Problem

I was finishing off a domain migration this week and was changing the clients over to McAfee. On one machine I found it had Symantec AntiVirus. When I tried to remove it, it asked for a password.

One of the other machines had Symantec Endpoint Protection installed and this did the same.

As expected, no one knew what this password was, and the default password ‘symantec’ didn’t work.

Solution

The same fix worked for both of them, and its painfully easy. While still being asked for the password, do the following.

1. Launch Task Manager, (Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, Or right click the taskbar, or simply run Taskmgr.exe).

2. Select the processes tab, Locate the MSIEXEC.EXE service. Note: There may be more than one, if so select the one that running under the user account that you a logged on as DO NOT select it is it is running under the SYSTEM account. End the process.

3. Now the password request box will have disappeared, and the uninstall process will complete on its own.

Freecom Tough Drive – Remove Password and CD Drive

Posted on 17/11/2015 by Migrated

KB ID 0000403

Problem

I’m a big fan of Tough Drives! My old 260GB was getting a bit full – so I bit the bullet and replaced it with a shiny new Tough Drive Sport 750GB.

As it comes with password protection I turned this on – fast forward to the next day (this morning) and it’s bugging the hell out of me. I mailed the nice folk at Freecom and within twenty minutes they mailed me back with instructions to remove. (Top customer service guys!)