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A case study in PDF forensics: The Epstein PDFs

This article details a PDF forensics case study on a small, random selection of the Epstein PDF files released by the US Department of Justice (DoJ). The tranche contains 4,085 PDF files, with an estimated 5,879 remaining unreleased. Key findings include:

  • A difference in PDF version reporting between forensic tools.
  • The presence of two incremental updates.
  • The discovery of a hidden (orphaned) document information dictionary revealing the software used in processing.
  • The DoJ avoided JPEG images to prevent metadata leakage.
  • Overall, the DoJ’s sanitization workflow could be improved to reduce file size and information leakage.
Peter Wyatt

By Peter Wyatt
December 2025

A case study in PDF forensics: The Epstein PDFs

This article details a PDF forensics case study on a small, random selection of the Epstein PDF files released by the US Department of Justice (DoJ). The tranche contains 4,085 PDF files, with an estimated 5,879 remaining unreleased. Key findings include:

  • A difference in PDF version reporting between forensic tools.
  • The presence of two incremental updates.
  • The discovery of a hidden (orphaned) document information dictionary revealing the software used in processing.
  • The DoJ avoided JPEG images to prevent metadata leakage.
  • Overall, the DoJ’s sanitization workflow could be improved to reduce file size and information leakage.
Peter Wyatt

By Peter Wyatt
December 2025

Software Supporting PDF/UA

January 2014 by PDF Association staff
Article


Longtime chairman of the US Committee for PDF/UA, Duff Johnson maintains a page listing software providing PDF/UA functionality as well as an updated history of PDF/UA.

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January 2014 by PDF Association staff
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Accessibility isn’t easy. For implementers and product managers alike who are responsible for supporting accessibility in PDF, this article describes … Read more

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August 2013 by PDF Association staff
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The Swiss non-profit foundation “Access for all” has published the PDF Accessibility Checker (PAC 2) the world’s first tool for … Read more

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June 2013 by PDF Association staff
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“PDF/UA in a Nutshell” will show you just what PDF/UA is. This brochure provides a clear summary of the key … Read more

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June 2013 by PDF Association staff
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At 20 years of age PDF has remained very cool with customers and end users. Largely immune to the buzz … Read more

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February 2013 by PDF Association staff
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Where did PDF/A come from?

Article

June 2012 by Nicole Gauger
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To promote awareness of PDF/UA, the forthcoming ISO Standard for accessible PDF, the PDF Association has partnered with the non-profit-organisation … Read more

Article

January 2012 by Duff Johnson
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The twice-annual PDF Standards Week for the winter of 2011-2012 was hosted by Microsoft in their Bravern facility in Bellevue, … Read more

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September 2011 by Olaf Drümmer
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The PDF/A Competence Center is now part of a larger organization dedicated to promoting International Standards for PDF. As the … Read more

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August 2011 by PDF Association staff
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The Isartor test suite is available from pdfa.org free of charge. It can be used to check PDF validation software … Read more

Article

May 2011 by 100th German Library Day Steps into the Future with PDF/A

More than 3,000 librarians from all provinces will exchange experiences and learn about new trends and developments in librarianship, including … Read more

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