--- title: "Broadcasting Secure PDFs" canonical: "https://wiki.yellowfinbi.com/space/user80/1540343/Broadcasting%20Secure%20PDFs" format: markdown --- > Macro (anchor) > Macro (toc) ## Overview When broadcasting PDF files, you can password-protect them to ensure that they can only be viewed by specific people. This is ideal when transferring reports containing sensitive information. There are 3 ways to make your PDFs secure: - **Create a report password:** Set a password when exporting the file, and use it on broadcasted PDFs. - **Create a broadcast password:** Specify a new password when broadcasting the file. - **Use the system generated password:** Use the default password provided by Yellowfin, instead of creating one of your own. However, you can always change the default password through the Administration module. ## Securing PDF Files During Broadcast Make your PDF files more secure by setting a password when broadcasting them. This guide will show you how. 1. Click on the **Broadcast** icon in your Report Builder.  > Macro (inline-media-image) 2. Click on the **Create** button, and then on Broadcast. > Macro (inline-media-image) 3. In the new pop up, provide the broadcast details, as you normally would. Click [here](https://yellowfin.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/user80/pages/1591958) for more information on how to do this. 4. Select the **PDF** icon.  > Macro (inline-media-image) 5. On doing so, additional details will appear. If your file is already secured with a report password, then the **Secure PDF** checkbox will be auto selected. But if not, select this checkbox. Additional settings will appear. 6. Specify a password source. Below is a description of the three options: 1. To specify your own unique password to secure this PDF, choose the **Set up a password for this broadcast** option. Enter the password in the PDF Password field. 2. To use the report password that was created when the PDF was exported, select the **Use report’s PDF password **option. You will be able to see this password in the below field. **Note:** This option only appears if the file has a report password specified. Refer to our [tutorial](#BroadcastingSecurePDFs-reportpassword) on how to create this password. 3. To use the default system password, choose the **Use default PDF password **option. You can note down this password when it appears in the below field. **Note:** This option only appears if there is a default password specified in the system. Refer to [this](#BroadcastingSecurePDFs-defaultpassword) section to learn how to change it. 7. Continue specifying the remaining details of the [broadcast](https://yellowfin.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/user80/pages/1591958), as you normally would. 8. Once done, click on the **Submit** button. Your secure PDF will be sent to the recipients when it’s scheduled to be broadcasted. --- > Macro (anchor) ## Creating a Report Password This tutorial will guide you through the process of creating a report password when exporting the report into a PDF file. This password will be required every time the PDF is accessed. 1. Once you have created your report, and when it’s time to export it into a PDF file, follow the steps below: 2. Click on the **export** icon. Select **Export to PDF** on the left side of the pop up that appears. > Macro (inline-media-image) 3. Disable the **Use default layout values** toggle to select your preferred layout settings. Doing so will display additional export settings. From this list, enable the **Secure PDF** toggle. 4. Provide a password for this file in the new text field.  > Macro (inline-media-image) 5. Click on the **Export** button to export this file, saving the password. **Note:** This step is mandatory for the password to be saved. 6. Now when any user tries to access this PDF file, they will need to provide this password. --- > Macro (anchor) ## Updating the Default Password Yellowfin has a default password used to secure PDF files. You can simply use this password, instead of providing one of your own. However, changing this default password is also a possibility. Here’s how you can go about changing it: 1. Navigate to the Configuration page. (Left side menu > Administration > Configuration.) 2. Access the system settings, by clicking on the **system** icon. 3. Expand the **PDF Export Defaults** option.  > Macro (inline-media-image) 4. Scroll down to the **PDF Password** setting, and enter a password in the field. (Make sure to select a secure password.)  > Macro (inline-media-image) 5. Click **Save** to update the default password. 6. Users would require this password to open Yellowfin reports exported as PDF files.