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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

veraPDF 0.24 released

October 2016 by Duff Johnson
News


The latest veraPDF now includes batch processing (beta), additional error-handling and extraction of the AFRelationship key.

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September 2016 by PDF Association staff
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PDF/E Competence Center promote awareness of the ISO standard for engineering supporting the secure creation, exchange and use of engineering … Read more

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September 2016 by Matt Kuznicki
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Throughout Time… Reproduction of a bison of the cave of Altamira Humans have put their thoughts to media with the … Read more

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September 2016 by Duff Johnson
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Looking for PDF expertise in the Asia / Pacific region! Come to PDF Day Australia on November 25, 2016 in … Read more

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September 2016 by PDF Association staff
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This educational event is designed to help CIOs, document management experts and electronic content policy-makers come to grips with ISO-standardized … Read more

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September 2016 by Duff Johnson
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The latest incremental release reflects user requests, some minor fixes and a decision taken in the PDF Validation TWG.

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September 2016 by PDF Association staff
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The successful PDF Days Europe will be held in Berlin again. Across two days, you’ll be able to choose from … Read more

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September 2016 by Duff Johnson
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US agencies have released updated guidelines on digitizing books and other materials.

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August 2016 by Duff Johnson
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PDF/UA documents from Microsoft are on the way.

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August 2016 by Duff Johnson
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ECM needs a common portable container to move information management to the next level.

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August 2016 by PDF Association staff
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You missed the PDF Days Europe 2016? Never mind!

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