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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

TWAIN Working Group and PDF Association Announce PDF/raster: The Next-Generation Format for Imaging

August 2017 by PDF Association staff
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PDF/raster, a strict subset of the PDF format, was designed for storing, transporting and exchanging multi-page raster-image documents, especially scanned documents. PDF/raster provides the portability of PDF while offering the … Read more

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August 2017 by PDF Association staff
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The latest release of veraPDF, the industry-supported PDF/A validator, is now available for download.

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August 2017 by PDF Association staff
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The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has announced the publication of ISO 32000-2 (PDF 2.0), the latest version of the … Read more

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July 2017 by PDF Association staff
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Replacing AIIM at the US TAG Administrator and secretary for ISO TC 171 SC 2, the 3D PDF Consortium, a … Read more

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July 2017 by PDF Association staff
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The PDF Association, a not-for-profit organization designed to foster universal public standards for PDF technology, today announced the publication of … Read more

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June 2017 by PDF Association staff
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Version 1.6 features the ability to check for updated software, among other enhancements and corrections.

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June 2017 by PDF Association staff
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Australia adopts the complete set of PDF standards as Australian National Standards.

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May 2017 by Alexandra Oettler
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The new PDF Association publication PDF/X in a Nutshell is available online.

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February 2017 by PDF Association staff
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It is now proven that the contents of a PDF hashed with SHA-1 can be changed without invalidating the signature, … Read more

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February 2017 by Duff Johnson
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The veraPDF consortium has completed PREFORMA’s prototyping phase, and has been awarded the contract for the final six month testing … Read more

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February 2017 by Duff Johnson
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The first post-Adobe ISO standard for PDF technology creates new opportunities for developers of electronic document software. Berlin, February 2, … Read more

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