Question 1

Are my PDF files uploaded to a server?

Accepted Answer

No, absolutely not. All PDF processing happens 100% in your browser using WebAssembly technology. Your files never leave your device, ensuring complete privacy and security. This is a fundamental principle of our platform: zero server uploads, zero data collection, zero surveillance.

Question 2

How secure is my data?

Accepted Answer

Your data is as secure as it gets. Since everything runs in your browser with zero uploads, we have zero access to your files. We don't use tracking cookies, analytics, fingerprinting, or any monitoring tools. We're fully GDPR, CCPA, LGPD, POPIA, WCAG 2.1 AA, and EAA compliant.

Question 3

Do you store any of my data?

Accepted Answer

No, we do not store any of your data. All processing happens in your browser, and your files are never transmitted to our servers. We have no databases, no file storage systems, no logs. It's technically impossible for us to access your files.

Question 4

What happens to my files after processing?

Accepted Answer

Once you close or refresh the page, all files are immediately cleared from your browser's memory. The browser's garbage collector automatically frees up this memory. There are no traces left behind.

Question 5

Do you use cookies or tracking?

Accepted Answer

No cookies, no tracking, no analytics, no third-party scripts. We don't track your IP address, browser fingerprint, geolocation, or any identifying information. Zero surveillance capitalism.

Question 6

Can government agencies access my files?

Accepted Answer

No, because we never have access to your files in the first place. Since all processing happens locally without server uploads, there's nothing for anyone to access or subpoena. Zero-knowledge architecture.

Question 7

What encryption standards do you use?

Accepted Answer

We use AES-256-GCM for encryption, PBKDF2 with 100,000 iterations for key derivation, and SHA-256 for hashing. Military-grade encryption standards used by governments and financial institutions.

Question 8

Is my password stored anywhere?

Accepted Answer

No, passwords are never stored, logged, or transmitted. They exist only in your browser's memory during encryption/decryption and are immediately discarded afterward.

Question 9

What is HexBurn PDF?

Accepted Answer

HexBurn PDF creates self-destructing documents with AES-256 encryption and 22 advanced security features. Documents that burn after reading, with device locks, geo-restrictions, stealth mode, and quantum burn technology.

Question 10

How does HexBurn PDF work?

Accepted Answer

HexBurn encrypts your PDF with AES-256 and embeds it into a self-contained HTML file. This file contains encrypted PDF plus JavaScript for decryption, rendering, security checks, and self-destruction. The recipient opens the HTML, enters password, and document displays with countdown timer.

Question 11

What security features does HexBurn offer?

Accepted Answer

22 security features including: View-Once, Reading Timer, Block Print/Copy/Screenshot, DevTools Detection, Freeze on Alt-Tab, Nuclear Mode, Stealth Mode, Device Fingerprint Lock, Geo-Lock, Anti-Camera Detection, Ghost Pages, Auto-Translate TTS, HeatShield, Self-Dimming, Code Integrity Guard, Watermark Fingerprinting, Quantum Burn, and more.

Question 12

What is Stealth Mode?

Accepted Answer

Stealth Mode displays a black screen when opened. Recipient must press secret key combination (default: SHIFT+SPACE) to reveal document. Makes file appear empty to anyone who doesn't know the secret.

Question 13

How does Device Fingerprint Lock work?

Accepted Answer

Creates unique hash from GPU model, browser version, OS, screen resolution, timezone, and CPU cores. Document only opens on the specific device. Different device triggers instant nuclear burn. 100% client-side, no server required.

Question 14

What is Quantum Burn Mode?

Accepted Answer

Adds random probability (0.1%-50%) of instant self-destruction when document opens. Creates uncertainty - recipient never knows if document will self-destruct immediately. Perfect for documents that absolutely should not be opened multiple times.

Question 15

Can HexBurn documents be copied or saved?

Accepted Answer

HTML file can be copied, but content inside is encrypted and protected by security features. View-Once ensures single display. Device Lock ensures specific hardware only. Screenshot protection blocks capture attempts. Combination makes unauthorized access extremely difficult.

Question 16

What's the difference between Burn Mode and Time Capsule Mode?

Accepted Answer

Burn Mode: Self-destructs after reading timer (30s-5m) or first viewing. Time Capsule: Only opens after specific date/time. Perfect for delayed releases, scheduled announcements, or legal documents accessible after certain date.

Question 17

What PDF operations are supported?

Accepted Answer

25+ operations: Merge, Split, Compress, PDF to JPG/PNG, JPG/PNG to PDF, PDF to Word, Word to PDF, Extract Text/Images/Pages, Delete Pages, Reorder, Rotate, Add Page Numbers, Watermark, Encrypt, Unlock, Edit Metadata, Flatten, Grayscale, Sign, Crop, and HexBurn self-destructing PDFs.

Question 18

How effective is PDF compression?

Accepted Answer

Image-heavy PDFs: 50-90% reduction. Text-heavy: 10-30%. We use multiple strategies: image optimization, font subsetting, removing unused objects, and optimizing streams. Configurable quality settings.

Question 19

Can I merge PDFs with different page sizes?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can merge PDFs with different page sizes (A4, Letter, Legal, custom sizes). Each page maintains its original dimensions in the merged document. The combined PDF will have variable page sizes throughout.

Question 20

How do I convert PDF to Excel?

Accepted Answer

Use our PDF to Excel tool to extract tabular data from PDFs. The tool detects tables automatically, extracts cell data, and creates Excel spreadsheets or CSV files. Works best with structured tables and data-heavy PDFs.

Question 21

Can I add watermarks to PDFs?

Accepted Answer

Yes, our Watermark PDF tool lets you add text or image watermarks to documents. Customize position, opacity, rotation, size, and color. Add "CONFIDENTIAL", "DRAFT", copyright notices, or logos to protect your documents.

Question 22

How do I remove pages from a PDF?

Accepted Answer

Use the Delete Pages tool. View all pages as thumbnails, select pages to remove by clicking them, and click delete. The remaining pages are saved as a new PDF with original quality maintained.

Question 23

Can I reorder PDF pages?

Accepted Answer

Yes, use the Reorder Pages tool to drag and drop pages into any sequence. Fix scanning errors, reorganize document sections, or arrange pages logically before merging or sharing.

Question 24

How do I add page numbers to PDFs?

Accepted Answer

Use the Add Page Numbers tool. Choose position (header, footer, corners), format (1, Page 1, Page 1 of N), font size, and starting number. Page numbers are added to all pages automatically.

Question 25

Can I sign PDFs electronically?

Accepted Answer

Yes, our Sign PDF tool supports drawing signatures with mouse/touchscreen, typing signatures in various fonts, and uploading signature images. Place signatures anywhere on the document with adjustable size.

Question 26

How do I crop PDF pages?

Accepted Answer

Use the Crop PDF tool to remove unwanted margins, borders, or areas. Draw a crop box around the content you want to keep. Apply to all pages or specific pages. Useful for removing white space or focusing on specific areas.

Question 27

Can I convert PDFs to grayscale?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the Grayscale PDF tool converts all colors to black and white. Reduces file size, saves printer ink, and creates professional black-and-white documents from color PDFs. Perfect for printing cost reduction.

Question 28

How do I extract images from PDFs?

Accepted Answer

Use the Extract Images tool. It scans the PDF, identifies all embedded images, and extracts them as separate JPG or PNG files. Download all images as a ZIP archive. Original image quality is preserved.

Question 29

Can I edit PDF metadata?

Accepted Answer

Yes, use the Edit Metadata tool to modify title, author, subject, keywords, creation date, and other document properties. Useful for organizing documents, adding information, or preparing PDFs for publication.

Question 30

How do I flatten PDF forms?

Accepted Answer

Use the Flatten PDF tool to convert interactive form fields into static content. Prevents further editing, locks in entered data, and ensures forms display consistently across all PDF viewers. Essential before finalizing and distributing completed forms.

Question 31

Can I compare two PDF versions?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the Compare PDF tool shows visual differences between two document versions. Displays side-by-side comparison with changes highlighted. Perfect for reviewing contract edits, auditing revisions, or verifying document changes.

Question 32

How do I repair corrupted PDFs?

Accepted Answer

Use the Repair PDF tool. It attempts multiple recovery strategies: header reconstruction, cross-reference table rebuilding, page-by-page extraction, and EOF marker fixing. Success depends on corruption severity. Heavily damaged files may only allow partial recovery.

Question 33

Can I fill PDF forms online?

Accepted Answer

Yes, use the Fill PDF Forms tool to complete any PDF form in your browser. Add text, checkboxes, dates, and signatures anywhere on the page. Works with both interactive and non-interactive forms. No printing or scanning required.

Question 34

How does client-side PDF processing work?

Accepted Answer

Uses WebAssembly (WASM) to run high-performance PDF code directly in browser. Libraries like pdf-lib, pdf.js, jsPDF compiled to WASM. Files loaded into browser memory, processed locally, zero server communication.

Question 35

Which browsers are supported?

Accepted Answer

All modern browsers: Chrome 91+, Firefox 89+, Safari 15+, Edge 91+, Opera 77+, mobile browsers. Requires WebAssembly, Web Crypto API, Canvas API, ES2020 JavaScript. Browsers from last 2-3 years work perfectly.

Question 36

Do these tools work offline?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Once page is loaded, all tools work completely offline. Disconnect from internet and continue processing. Entire application cached in browser. Perfect for airplanes, secure environments, anywhere without reliable internet.

Question 37

Is there a file size limit?

Accepted Answer

Only limit is your device's available memory. Desktop computers with 8GB+ RAM handle multi-hundred-megabyte PDFs. Mobile devices more limited. If file too large, browser may crash or run out of memory.

Question 38

What technologies power these tools?

Accepted Answer

Built with pdf-lib, pdf.js, jsPDF, Tesseract.js for OCR, Web Crypto API for encryption, Canvas API for rendering, JSZip for compression, and WebAssembly for performance. Modern JavaScript frameworks ensure fast, reliable processing.

Question 39

Can I process multiple files at once?

Accepted Answer

Yes, many tools support batch processing. Upload multiple files and process them sequentially or in parallel. Merge multiple PDFs, convert multiple images to PDF, or apply operations to entire document collections.

Question 40

Why is processing slow on mobile devices?

Accepted Answer

Mobile processors have less computing power than desktop CPUs. Large PDFs, image processing, and compression are CPU-intensive operations. For best performance, use desktop computers or reduce file sizes before processing on mobile.

Question 41

Does my browser need to be updated?

Accepted Answer

Modern browsers from the last 2-3 years work perfectly. If experiencing issues, update to the latest browser version. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all provide excellent support for WebAssembly and modern JavaScript features.

Question 42

What image formats can I convert to PDF?

Accepted Answer

JPG, JPEG, PNG, WebP, and most common image formats. Upload single or multiple images, arrange them in order, and convert to a multi-page PDF. Each image becomes one page with customizable size and margins.

Question 43

Can I convert Word documents to PDF?

Accepted Answer

Yes, upload DOC or DOCX files and convert them to PDF format. Preserves text, formatting, images, and document structure. Ideal for creating professional, shareable PDFs from Word documents that maintain consistent formatting across platforms.

Question 44

What quality settings are available for image conversion?

Accepted Answer

Choose between high quality (larger file size), medium quality (balanced), or low quality (smaller file size). High quality preserves original image fidelity. Low quality reduces file size significantly but may show compression artifacts.

Question 45

Can I convert PDF pages to images?

Accepted Answer

Yes, convert PDF pages to JPG or PNG images. Each page becomes a separate high-resolution image file. Choose resolution (DPI), format, and quality. Perfect for creating thumbnails, inserting pages into presentations, or sharing individual pages as images.

Question 46

What PDF versions are supported?

Accepted Answer

Support for PDF versions 1.0 through 2.0, covering virtually all PDFs created in the last 30 years. This includes PDFs from Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Office, Google Docs, LibreOffice, and all major PDF creation tools.

Question 47

Are PDF/A archival formats supported?

Accepted Answer

Yes, PDF/A-1, PDF/A-2, and PDF/A-3 archival formats are fully supported. These formats ensure long-term document preservation and are commonly used for legal, governmental, and historical documents requiring guaranteed future readability.

Question 48

Can I convert Excel or CSV files to PDF?

Accepted Answer

Currently not supported directly. Best approach: open Excel/CSV in spreadsheet software, save as PDF, then use our tools for further processing. Alternatively, export to HTML first, then convert HTML to PDF using print-to-PDF functionality.

Question 49

What resolution should I use for PDF to image conversion?

Accepted Answer

72 DPI: screen viewing. 150 DPI: standard printing. 300 DPI: professional printing and high-quality reproduction. 600+ DPI: archival or specialized printing. Higher DPI creates larger files but better quality. Choose based on intended use.

Question 50

Why is my PDF not loading?

Accepted Answer

Common causes: corrupted file, unsupported encryption, file too large for device memory, or browser compatibility issue. Try: repair the PDF first, unlock if password-protected, reduce file size via compression, or switch to desktop browser with more RAM.

Question 51

The page crashed during processing. What happened?

Accepted Answer

Browser ran out of memory. Happens with very large files on devices with limited RAM. Solutions: close other browser tabs, restart browser, try smaller files, use desktop computer with more RAM, or split large PDFs into smaller parts.

Question 52

Downloaded file is corrupt or won't open. Why?

Accepted Answer

Possible causes: incomplete download, browser extension interference, antivirus quarantine, or disk space issue. Solutions: re-download, disable browser extensions temporarily, check antivirus logs, ensure sufficient disk space, try different browser.

Question 53

Processing is stuck. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

Large files take time. Wait at least 2-5 minutes for complex operations. If genuinely stuck: refresh page and retry, try smaller file, check browser console for errors, clear browser cache, or try different browser. Some operations are CPU-intensive and require patience.

Question 54

Why does encryption fail with certain passwords?

Accepted Answer

Some special characters may cause issues with certain PDF readers. Stick to letters, numbers, and common symbols for maximum compatibility. Passwords with emoji or extended Unicode may work but might not be supported by all PDF viewers.

Question 55

Merged PDF pages are in wrong order. How to fix?

Accepted Answer

Before merging, drag files into correct sequence in the file list. The merge tool combines files in the order displayed. To fix already-merged PDF: use Reorder Pages tool to rearrange pages after merging.

Question 56

Compressed PDF still too large. What else can I do?

Accepted Answer

Try: convert color to grayscale, reduce image resolution before conversion, remove unnecessary pages, split into multiple smaller PDFs, or convert images to lower quality JPG before creating PDF. Some PDFs cannot be compressed much further without significant quality loss.

Question 57

Text extraction produced gibberish. Why?

Accepted Answer

PDF uses non-standard fonts, custom encoding, or is scanned image. Solutions: try OCR if scanned, check if PDF uses embedded fonts correctly, or manually copy text in smaller sections. Some PDFs deliberately obfuscate text to prevent extraction.

Question 58

Is this GDPR compliant?

Accepted Answer

Yes, 100% GDPR compliant. We collect zero personal data, use no cookies, perform no tracking, and never process your files on servers. Since data never leaves your device, GDPR's strictest requirements are inherently satisfied. No data processing agreements needed.

Question 59

Can I use this for confidential business documents?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Client-side processing means your confidential documents never leave your control. Perfect for lawyers, accountants, executives, and anyone handling sensitive business information. No data breach risk since we never access your files.

Question 60

Are electronically signed PDFs legally binding?

Accepted Answer

Depends on jurisdiction and document type. Most countries accept electronic signatures for standard contracts under laws like eIDAS (EU) or ESIGN Act (US). For critical legal documents, consult legal counsel. Our tool provides electronic signatures, not advanced qualified electronic signatures (QES).

Question 61

Is this HIPAA compliant for medical documents?

Accepted Answer

Client-side processing inherently satisfies HIPAA's technical requirements since PHI (Protected Health Information) never leaves your device or gets transmitted to our servers. However, individual healthcare organizations should conduct their own compliance assessments based on specific policies.

Question 62

Can government agencies use these tools?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Zero-server architecture makes these tools suitable for government use, including classified environments when used offline. No data exfiltration risk. Many government agencies worldwide use client-side tools for sensitive document processing.

Question 63

Do you comply with CCPA, LGPD, POPIA?

Accepted Answer

Yes, fully compliant with CCPA (California), LGPD (Brazil), POPIA (South Africa), and all major privacy regulations worldwide. Since we collect zero personal data and perform no tracking, compliance is inherent in our architecture.

Question 64

Are audit logs available for compliance?

Accepted Answer

No audit logs exist because we have no servers and no logging infrastructure. For organizations requiring audit trails, maintain local documentation of when tools were used. The trade-off for absolute privacy is absence of centralized logging.

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