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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

PDF standards explained: with a focus on the newest

September 2021 by Dietrich von Seggern (callas software GmbH)
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Dietrich von Seggern from callas software explains PDF standards with a focus on the newest standards.

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September 2021 by Duff Johnson
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According to CommonCrawl’s detected MIME type PDF is the 3rd most popular file-format on the web (behind HTML and XHTML); … Read more

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September 2021 by PDF Association staff
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The PDF Association welcomes new members as we absorb the 3D PDF Consortium’s membership and functions. With two new working … Read more

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August 2021 by PDF Association staff
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PDF Days Online 2021 is brimming with up-to-date technical and educational presentations. If you work with digital documents there’s a … Read more

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August 2021 by Dietrich von Seggern (callas software GmbH)
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Dietrich von Seggern describes optimal uses of automation in label printing and discusses the integration of print processing steps in … Read more

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August 2021 by PDF Association staff
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PDF Days this year is online-only. Technical Days sessions range from September 27 – October 18 at 1600 and 1700 … Read more

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July 2021 by PDF Association staff
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We preview some of what’s coming at PDF Days Europe 2021 with sessions in accessibility, production, security and core PDF … Read more

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July 2021 by Leonard Rosenthol (Adobe)
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The Technical Working Group’s chair explains the current missions of the PDF Forms TWG; a declarative model for business logic, … Read more

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July 2021 by PDF Association staff
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Technical resources on pdfa.org are now more understandable and navigable by less technically experienced readers as well as knowledgeable developers.

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July 2021 by Peter Shikli (Access2online Inc.)
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PDF documents can be as accessible as web pages if presented correctly.

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July 2021 by Peter Wyatt
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To assist both academic and industry researchers achieve high-quality and accurate PDF-oriented research outcomes, the PDF Association is now offering … Read more

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