PDF Security Scanner
Scan PDF files online for malicious JavaScript, auto-run launch actions, hidden tracking URLs, and embedded files. 100% free and client-side.
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Click to browse or drag and drop your PDF here (100% private, runs entirely in your browser)
What is this tool?
PDF Security Scanner is a free online cybersecurity tool that inspects and audits PDF files safely inside your browser. Because PDFs can host hidden executable JavaScript, automated launch commands, and tracking web beacons, attackers frequently disguise malware inside invoices and contracts. Our tool parses the raw structural hierarchy of your document to uncover suspicious triggers like /OpenAction hooks, embedded scripts, and external phishing URLs before you open the file in desktop software. All scanning happens locally on your device in an isolated sandbox, ensuring sensitive documents are never uploaded to any cloud server. It is indispensable for IT teams, finance departments, and anyone verifying incoming attachments quickly.
Common Use Cases
Screening Suspicious Email Attachments and Invoices
Verify unexpected vendor bills, receipts, or shipping documents received by email. Identify hidden scripts and dangerous payload references before opening attachments in desktop software where malicious macros might run automatically.
Auditing Embedded Hyperlinks for Phishing Threats
Inspect every destination web URL contained within a document in an isolated sandbox. Check redirection domains and tracking links safely without triggering telemetry beacons or accidentally loading deceptive credential-harvesting websites.
Detecting Malicious Launch Commands and Hooks
Uncover hidden /Launch, /OpenAction, and /AA dictionary directives designed to execute background terminal processes or launch foreign binaries the moment a user clicks or previews a file in Acrobat Reader.
Inspecting Document Metadata for Data Leaks
Examine internal metadata streams, software author tags, operating system paths, and creation timestamps. Ensure public-facing whitepapers, legal contracts, and financial disclosures do not expose private employee identities or internal network architectures.
Analyzing Embedded Files and Hidden Payloads
Detect file packages, malicious macros, or nested objects hidden inside the PDF container. Confirm whether incoming attachments contain unauthorized executable archives or stealthy payloads masked beneath standard digital page views.
Conducting First-Line Incident Triage for IT
Provide helpdesk technicians and SOC teams with a rapid client-side inspection utility. Analyze user-submitted suspect PDFs instantly without maintaining specialized virtual machine sandboxes or sending confidential internal documents to third-party providers.
Frequently Asked Questions
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