PDF Association logo

Discover pdfa.org

Key resources

Get involved

How do you find the right PDF technology vendor?
Use the Solution Agent to ask the entire PDF communuity!
The PDF Association celebrates its members’ public statements
of support
for ISO-standardized PDF technology.

Member Area


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

Introducing non-rectangular links to PDF

April 2022 by Peter Wyatt
Article


Non-rectangular links are coming to PDF 2.0! This article offers some background to link technology in PDF and discusses the forthcoming Extension to PDF 2.0.

Peter Wyatt
Visit Peter Wyatt's profile.

April 2022 by Peter Wyatt
Peter Wyatt
Visit Peter Wyatt‘s profile.

With the publication of ISO/TS 24064 PDF 2.0 now supports three 3D formats: U3D, PRC and STEP.

Article

April 2022 by Thomas Zellmann
Picture of Thomas Zellmann
Visit Thomas Zellmann‘s profile.

This post provides a quick overview of PDF/UA that explains what PDF/UA is, why it should be used, what is … Read more

Article

March 2022 by PDF Association staff
PDF Association logo
Visit PDF Association staff‘s profile.

Members and non-members alike are welcome to submit proposals to present at the world’s premiere PDF technology event this September!

PDF Association news

March 2022 by Dov Isaacs (Dov Isaacs)
Dov Isaacs
Visit Dov Isaacs‘s profile.

Dov Isaacs discusses the issues and opportunities that the print publishing industry faces and how the PDF/X standard can help … Read more

Article

March 2022 by Dov Isaacs (Dov Isaacs)
Dov Isaacs
Visit Dov Isaacs‘s profile.

In this part of the ‘Twenty Years of PDF/X’ series, Dov Isaacs discusses the success and adoption of the PDF/X … Read more

Article

March 2022 by Dov Isaacs (Dov Isaacs)
Dov Isaacs
Visit Dov Isaacs‘s profile.

In this part of ‘Twenty Years of PDF/X’, Dov Isaacs explores how PDF/X tamed PostScript and its impact on the … Read more

Article

March 2022 by Dov Isaacs (Dov Isaacs)
Dov Isaacs
Visit Dov Isaacs‘s profile.

This is the first of a four part series of articles examining the path leading to today’s PDF/X standards.

Article

March 2022 by François Charette (Compart GmbH)
François Charette
Visit François Charette‘s profile.

Function as a Service (FaaS) as a relatively new cloud model is also an attractive option in document and output … Read more

Article

March 2022 by Thomas Zellmann
Picture of Thomas Zellmann
Visit Thomas Zellmann‘s profile.

This post provides users with a quick overview of PDF/A explaining what it is, why it should be used, what … Read more

Article

February 2022 by PDF Association staff
PDF Association logo
Visit PDF Association staff‘s profile.

Set aside September 12-13 2022 for PDF Days Europe 2022, in-person in Berlin and live-streamed online! PDF developers should consider … Read more

PDF Association news

Member News

WordPress Cookie Notice by Real Cookie Banner