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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

Announcing the Email Archiving with PDF Liaison Working Group

November 2021 by PDF Association staff
Article


Almost every email client can save email messages as PDF files, but none do so in a manner that retains email structures or metadata proving message authenticity. The EA-PDF specification … Read more

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November 2021 by Peter Wyatt
Peter Wyatt
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This freely-available PDF file includes 8 test cases that only render correctly if the abbreviated key name is used. If … Read more

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October 2021 by Duff Johnson
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The CEO of the PDF Association reflects on the steady expansion of the organization’s mission and the future.

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October 2021 by Peter Wyatt
Peter Wyatt
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PDF issues has been redesigned based on industry feedback: all resolved errata are now published via https://pdf-issues.pdfa.org.

Article

October 2021 by Dietrich von Seggern (callas software GmbH)
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Dietrich von Seggern from callas software explains why companies should not leave the generation of PDF/A to their staff, but … Read more

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October 2021 by Peter Wyatt
Peter Wyatt
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On World Standards Day 2021 the PDF Association celebrates PDF’s connection to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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October 2021 by Peter Wyatt
Peter Wyatt
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As a consumer of standards, have you ever stopped and critically reviewed what a standard essentially is and how it … Read more

Article

October 2021 by Dietrich von Seggern (callas software GmbH)
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callas software’s Dietrich von Seggern describes what “owned by ISO” really means, and why that matters, in celebration of World … Read more

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September 2021 by PDF Association staff
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For developers and heavy users of PDF technology the Technical Days and Solution Days sessions that make up PDF Days … Read more

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September 2021 by Peter Wyatt
Peter Wyatt
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This article describes how PDF Association communities work, and how members can establish common understandings, participate on the development of … Read more

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September 2021 by PDF Association staff
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We have enhanced the PDF Association’s Feature Support pages to be driven by members’ product and services showcase listings on … Read more

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