Why should you not use free PDF transformers online

PDF is an incredibly common file to share documents, which is used by individuals and organizations alike. This means that often, we find ourselves in the situations in which we need to reach a PDF adapter or editor.

Whether it’s PDF pressure to meet the web download size or convert a Word document to PDF to share, PDF tools are an essential part of the process. This has led to a flood of PDF transformers and editors who can do most of the things you need with PDF in a few clicks. These are some useful web applications, and more often, they do a good job. However, keep away from the online PDF tools as possible. This is why you should, too.

Your PDF files at the mercy of the PDF adapter


Lucas Gouveia / Geek Geek | Alpergzler / Shutterstock

When downloading your documents on the PDF online tool, you allow the site access to it. Although most of the websites that offer PDF tools claim to delete the documents downloaded within hours, there is no guarantee that happens. Once your documents reach a PDF adapter, they are at the mercy of the company or the site supervisor that runs this website.

according to CybernewsTwo PDF makers were found online to leak thousands of documents downloaded by the user in July 2024. These documents included sensitive elements such as passports, driving licenses, contracts and certificates. Such sensitive documents are a golden mine. All this happened because these web operators were indifferent to dealing with the documents that are assigned to them and left the documents within the reach of anyone sufficiently to find their cloud servant.

Even if the PDF adapter deletes the documents downloaded in the specified time frame, your documents are still in danger between the time you download and when it is deleted if the service does not store it properly.

You risk your data and the security of the device

A laptop with Windows 11, a malware icon over the keyboard, and the warning marks around it. Lucas Gouveia / Corbin Davenport / Geeek

Besides the peculiarity of your documents, the use of random pdf transformers online is also a great threat to safety. Like other file formats, PDFS can be armed with a harmful code. Therefore, when you download the transformed PDF or edited from an online adapter, you don’t know what to include.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Denver He issued a warning in March 2025 About this case exactly. He claimed that some online document transformers were entering malware in files converted and edited, including PDFS. Warning programs will steal personal information, bank details, passwords, encryption portfolio details, and more.

The FBI is not the only one to notice this trend between Internet criminals. In April 2025, cyberspace security company CloudSek has released a research report In detail, how fake PDF transformers transmit harmful programs and theft of reassuring people. The most anxious is that these are advanced Internet criminals. One of the fake PDF transformers created by these criminals is the famous PDF “PDF Candy” and had the URL and the original page design.

This makes it clear that you are not only risking your documents when using PDF transformers online, but also your devices and digital life as a whole.

Explanation of a server with the Stirling-PDF logo and many PDF icons around it. Lucas Gouveia/Geek Geek | SMX12/Shutterstock

Using web applications may be justified if there are no good tools in non -communication mode, but this is not the case. There is an excellent collection of PDF transformers and editors without connecting to the Internet who perform all the processing on your device, and some even open source, allowing the community to review their code and ensure that there are no hidden surprises. Therefore, there is simply a reason for anyone to rely on the tools online unless, of course, depends on a reliable service, such as One presented by Adobe.

If you are looking for a reliable PDF processor, PDF24 creative It is an excellent choice. It is available for Windows and includes a set of features, including the ability to convert, merge, compress and sign. It does everything locally and is available through Microsoft StoreAs well as on the company’s website. The availability of the application store is especially useful if you want to avoid landing on a cloning website, such as the site created by the Cyberrenals criminals for PDF Candy.

For lovers of open sources and people who use MacOS or Linux, Sterling PDF It is a great choice. While many smart individuals prefer to host it over their server, it contains Customers for all three main platforms This is mainly filling out the web and local server application in one elegant application to install free of trouble. It provides a comprehensive set of PDF manipulation. If you do not need many features, Pdfsam basic and PDF regulator It is also worth looking.


Unfortunately, the Internet criminals lie down everywhere, hoping to make a mistake. As a result, it is important to avoid random tools online for everything, including converting documents, and adhering to a good reputation tools. If you can use an uncompromising option, this is better. Moreover, it is always good to practice cyber hygiene for a safer digital life.

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