Let’s take a look at each in turn
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2024 9:00 am
Whenever you’re trying to secure something, whether it’s access to your car, email, bank account or a PowerPoint file, there are sometimes ways to circumvent the security mechanism. I’ll point out any backdoors for each option and a summary comparison of them all at the end so you can make the choice that’s right for you.
Skip to the recommendation
To prevent somebody ripping off your prized presentation or eLearning deck, we recommend a three-pronged approach. Using a combination of these different techniques, you can create an impenetrable fortress around your content.
Title: BrightCarbon L3 protection. Beneath the title there is a circular graphic, it has 3 sections and is labelled Lock the file (encrypt with password) Lock objects (remove select & export) Limit the UI (remove editing/saving)
This article explains exactly how and why to use this approach, and explores other file protection options.
Making your file read-only
Your first option is to provide your PowerPoint file to the nice people admiring your latest creative genius as a read-only file. This will allow them to open the PowerPoint file without a password, view the contents and run it as a slide show. It prevents them from editing or extracting the content. The options to make your content secure include:
Using the newer Protect Presentation feature
Converting the file to a PDF
Saving with the older Password phone numbers korea to Modify feature
Converting to HTML5
.
Protect Presentation
When you click the File button in the ribbon followed by the Info tab, you can view four ways to protect your file:
Screenshot of the PowerPoint Info screen. The Protect Presentation option is selected and a dropdown menu is open with the following options: Always Open Read-Only, Encrypt with Password, Add a Digital Signature, Mark as Final.
The first choice, Always Open Read Only, is a very low hurdle for your users to jump over. When set, the following message bar is shown each time the file is opened:
Screenshot of the PowerPoint ribbon. A yellow notification has popped up, it reads: To prevent accidental changes, the author has set this file to open as read-only. At the end of the notification is a button that says 'Edit Anyway'.
It’s not going to deter anyone who wants to steal your content, but it is a good way to make people think before making changes.
Skip to the recommendation
To prevent somebody ripping off your prized presentation or eLearning deck, we recommend a three-pronged approach. Using a combination of these different techniques, you can create an impenetrable fortress around your content.
Title: BrightCarbon L3 protection. Beneath the title there is a circular graphic, it has 3 sections and is labelled Lock the file (encrypt with password) Lock objects (remove select & export) Limit the UI (remove editing/saving)
This article explains exactly how and why to use this approach, and explores other file protection options.
Making your file read-only
Your first option is to provide your PowerPoint file to the nice people admiring your latest creative genius as a read-only file. This will allow them to open the PowerPoint file without a password, view the contents and run it as a slide show. It prevents them from editing or extracting the content. The options to make your content secure include:
Using the newer Protect Presentation feature
Converting the file to a PDF
Saving with the older Password phone numbers korea to Modify feature
Converting to HTML5
.
Protect Presentation
When you click the File button in the ribbon followed by the Info tab, you can view four ways to protect your file:
Screenshot of the PowerPoint Info screen. The Protect Presentation option is selected and a dropdown menu is open with the following options: Always Open Read-Only, Encrypt with Password, Add a Digital Signature, Mark as Final.
The first choice, Always Open Read Only, is a very low hurdle for your users to jump over. When set, the following message bar is shown each time the file is opened:
Screenshot of the PowerPoint ribbon. A yellow notification has popped up, it reads: To prevent accidental changes, the author has set this file to open as read-only. At the end of the notification is a button that says 'Edit Anyway'.
It’s not going to deter anyone who wants to steal your content, but it is a good way to make people think before making changes.