Problems with PDFs created in OSX copied to PC

[HCHTech]

I have a client (accountant) that gets a lot of customer data sent to him in PDF form. They have a customer that uses only Macs. The customer creates the PDF, then gives it to my client. They copy it to a shared directory on the server. My client can open and use these files fine, but when you browse them on the server, they show as encrypted (folders and file are shown in green, and the advanced properties have the "encrypt contents to secure data" checkbox is checked). If you try to uncheck that box - you get a permissions error. I cannot take ownership with the administrator account.

My client can open and print these files without needing a password.

The problem comes because this causes the backup to fail. It's only one client, so for now, we have backed up the folder manually by burning the files to CD from a workstation, then removed that client directory from the online backup.

Since I'm two levels removed from the actual creator of the file, I don't have much control there. I'll bet the original creator is doing something unusual to cause this problem, probably not intentionally. Has anyone run into this before?

Edit - just read this thread - probably the same issue, still wondering if there is a way to fix the backup problem.

 

[Markverhyden]

What app is being used to create the pdf's and as well as the receiving end?

 

[TurricanII]

It sounds like the folder into which the file has been copied is enabled for encryption on the Windows Server that your client has. This will stop other users on the network from accessing it over the network.

Need to look at removing encryption on the folder in which the PDF files have been saved. if you save the PDF files from email attachment into another folder then I'm sure you'll find that they don't turn green and get encrypted.

 

[HCHTech]

What app is being used to create the pdf's and as well as the receiving end?

No idea - and I'm sure my client has no idea either - since they can work with the files, I don't think they are keen to investigate the issue during their rush season. I will ask how he gets the file, though. If they email it in, I can imagine a situation where the source program might have an "email as encrypted" option or something like that.

 

[HCHTech]

It sounds like the folder into which the file has been copied is enabled for encryption on the Windows Server that your client has

Yeah, I don't think so in this case. There is a generic "Clients" folder and the folder with the problem is under that - something like "Smith Enterprises 2016". right along side lots of other similarly named but not "green" folders. I think my client is creating the folder because of the name. I will ask when I speak to them today to see if I can get any other information.

 

[HCHTech]

Does using cipher /D on one of these files give you any more information? And what does icacls have to say?

I will check and see - thanks for the suggestion.

 

[TurricanII]

Make another folder Smith Enterprises 2016v2 and save in there - no green encryption on files within? I'd be tempted to disable encryption of files via Group Policy if you run into this routinely or set the recovery agent options to allow the network admin to unpick the encryption.

 

[nlinecomputers]

It sounds like the folder into which the file has been copied is enabled for encryption on the Windows Server that your client has. This will stop other users on the network from accessing it over the network.

Need to look at removing encryption on the folder in which the PDF files have been saved. if you save the PDF files from email attachment into another folder then I'm sure you'll find that they don't turn green and get encrypted.

This. An encrypted file is ones and zeros just like any other file. There is no reason the backup wouldn't be able to handle it. This is something on the server that has nothing to do with PDFs. Probably a permissions issue with the user that is tasked to handle that client. The problem isn't the 3rd party just that end user's rights.

 

[timeshifter]

I would be curious as to how your client receives these files - email attachment, flash drive, etc.

What happens if you put other PDFs in that same folder? Whenever I need a test PDF I run to Google and type "1040" and get the IRS standard tax form off the first result. Grab that and drop it in the folder.