How to use this tool
- Drop in a PDF — especially one from a source you don't fully trust.
- Review what GetByteRush found, if anything.
- Click "Remove & Download" to get a cleaned copy.
Frequently asked questions
- What exactly does this check for?
- Open actions (JavaScript that runs automatically when the PDF is opened), document-level and page-level trigger actions (e.g. on close or on print), and embedded JavaScript registered in the document's name tree — the common ways a PDF can carry executable content.
- Does this catch every possible threat in a PDF?
- No tool can guarantee that, and we won't claim otherwise — the PDF format has other, more exotic attack surfaces (malformed structure exploiting a specific reader's parser bug, for example) that a structural scan like this doesn't address. This tool removes the well-known, common vectors: it's a real layer of protection, not a complete security audit.
- Will this change how my PDF looks?
- No — only the action/script entries are removed. Every page's visible content is untouched.
- Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?
- No — scanning and cleaning both happen entirely in your browser. The file never leaves your device.
How GetByteRush compares
Most free tools for this online work the same way: you upload your file to their server, wait, then download the result — which means your file (and often your email, for a "free" account) sits on someone else's infrastructure. Here's the actual difference:
| Feature | GetByteRush | Typical online tools |
|---|---|---|
| PDF ever leaves your device | No — scanned in this tab | Yes, uploaded to process |
| Shows exactly what was found before removing it | Yes | Varies |
| Account required | Never | Often, past a certain usage level |
("Typical online tools" reflects publicly documented behavior of common free file-processing sites as of 2026 — always check a specific competitor's own privacy policy and pricing page, since these details change.)