Can I create a Word Document that cannot be copied or edited?

The PDF format is the universal file formats as it can be shared easily without getting worried about the security of the file. On the other hand, Word document is not recommended for sharing purposes as this file format can be modified easily. Despite using all methods of protection still, Word files can be modified as this format is designed for editing. Whereas the PDF format is read-only that can be easily read by using any Best PDF Reader Software. It is not easy to lock the file completely. 

Rule #1 If they can read the document then they can copy it.

If the document is available for reading then it’s not difficult to copy it. The reader can take a print of the document or can apply OCR to the document in order to edit it. Moreover, if the printer is not available then the person can also take a screenshot of the document opened on screen.

If the document is in paper form then the reader can take a photocopy of the document or can also write the content on another paper. If the paper copy is available in a secure room where it cannot be written or photocopied then anyone can memorize it and then reproduce it later on.

So, it is not possible to completely secure your file. You can only make it harder. So, the solution to this problem is to share the document with only trustworthy people.

Rule #2 If they can copy the document then they can modify it.

If the document can be copied, then it is very obvious that it can be edited.
As mentioned earlier, it is not possible to stop the people from modifying your files. In this article, we have mentioned some tools that can help you to make the editing harder in Word format.

In MS Word, a protection can be applied to the forms by adding a password. This usually means that the text cannot be selected which means that it cannot get copied easily.

Different features like document properties and document variables can be added to a document. You cannot restrict the copying of the document by using these features but these features help you to detect the alteration in your document. Moreover, macros can be added in order to make copying or printing difficult. 

Word 2003 and later versions:

The user can apply the password to the file so that unauthorized people cannot get access to it. But again these passwords can be cracked by using different online tools.

Word 2007 and later versions:

In MS Word 2007 or later versions, very strong editing restrictions can be applied. You can find these under the Developer Tab or under the Review Tab.
So, the conclusion of the whole article is that no matter what kind of security you apply in MS Word, still your files are not completely protected. If you want to get more advanced protection features then convert your files to PDF. Classic PDF Editor that is one of the best PDF Converter software has made the job easier for you.