To safeguard confidential data in WPS PDF documents, you must follow a series of security procedures

WPS Office provides built-in features that allow users to secure their PDF documents through password protection and encryption algorithms

First, load your PDF file into WPS Office’s PDF editing environment

Access the security options by selecting Tools from the top navigation bar

From the dropdown options, select Protect or Security, depending on your version of WPS Office

This menu allows you to define both opening passwords and usage restrictions

Select the "Encrypt with Open Password" setting to lock the entire file

Your password must contain at least one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, a digit, and a special symbol

Each time the document is accessed, the user must authenticate with this password to unlock its contents

Double-check your input by typing the password a second time in the verify field

Depending on your WPS version, you might have the option to upgrade to stronger encryption

Always select the highest available encryption level if supported, as it provides the strongest security against brute force and decryption attempts

You can also apply a separate permissions password to limit actions like printing or copying

You can block users from printing, extracting text, modifying content, or inserting annotations

Use this option when recipients only need to view, not edit or reuse the content

Submit your configuration by selecting Apply or Confirm to lock the document

WPS Office will then re-encrypt the file with the new security parameters

Retain a master copy in a trusted location to avoid permanent loss due to forgotten credentials

It is worth noting that while WPS Office supports standard encryption methods, the security of your file ultimately depends on the strength of the password you choose

Never use personal information, dictionary words, or simple sequences as your password

Utilize tools like Bitwarden, KeePass, or 1Password to create and safeguard strong passwords

Additionally, always ensure that you are using the latest version of WPS Office, as updates often include improved encryption protocols and security patches

Finally, remember that encryption only protects the file itself; if the password is shared or leaked, the security is compromised

Therefore, distribute passwords through secure channels and avoid sending them alongside the encrypted file

With proper configuration and password hygiene, your encrypted PDFs will maintain maximum confidentiality and integrity