PDF 2 EXe - Is This Possible

I have a question for you.

I read an article saying that the most ebooks in .EXE format use html pages as sources. But it was also stated that some of them could use a PDF file. Using a Google search I even found a page named PDF2EXE but unfortunately it returned an error message.

I like to create PDF ebooks using Pagemaker 7.0. This is a very professional software with incredible features. You can create a real magazine or newspaper using Pagemaker. Of course it produces wonderful PDF ebooks. The problem is that EXE ebooks are much more safe, there are more options to protect them against unauthorized copies and code breaks. I have seen a girl teaching someone how to unprotect a PDF document even if you don´t know the password and I wouldn´t like to see this happening with my own ebooks.

PDFs do make for a great presentation. And yes, there is a question about security.

The ulitmate way to lock PDF is through Adobe's PDF server, which you can purchase for tens of thousands of dollars. Basically, Adobe's specialized program will lock a PDF to a specific user's PDF Reader.

There are services which will do this for you. None of them inexpensive (or even reasonable IMHO.)

That brings us to wrapping PDFs in an executable file. Most ebooks will allow you to do this. What they don't explain is that the PDF sits in a temporary file leaving your PDF vulnerable. They also use either an unlocked PDF file or one with either the owner or user password protection, which means your hard work is still vulnerable to crackers.

[There are two password protections possible on PDFs. There is an owner and a user password. Almost of the .exe wrappers use either one or the other, but not both. This is unfortunate because only when both owner/user passwords are used is your PDF really secure.]

Recently HYPrLock updated their program to enable users to use an owner/user password protected PDF file inside Activ.
http://www.hyprlock.com/
The customer never sees the passwords for the PDF file. This means that if they file share the next person will not be able unlock the PDF.

I thought you were interested in protecting your PDF from theft? Converting a PDF to an .exe file does not add a layer of security because it is just as vulnerable as before...uneless you use something something like an Activ and HYPrLock combo.

The reason is that the PDF must be opened. All the user has to do is look in their temp folder and voila, they have access to your ebook.

I found one service that offered secure PDF ebooks. They were reluctant to answer questions directly and instead gave vague answers. The only way to get any real information from them was to pose yes/no questions.

It turned out that they either were using Activ or an identical program. Their service requires a monthly fee, so for my money HYPrLock still came out ahead.

Please understand I don't work for Activ or HYPrLock and don't receive any financial benefit from either. If there were better products I wouldn't hesitate to use them. That's IMHO.

Sometimes it isn't as important what providers say about their products as to what they don't say. Anytime I can't get straight answers and have to resort to verbal interrogation techniques I know that there is something creepy beneath the rock.