Why does my PDF show as modified even though I didn't edit it?

Analysis results are stored permanently in our database. Once you upload and analyze a PDF, the results remain accessible indefinitely at the unique URL (htpbe.tech/result/[unique-id]).

This permanent storage has several benefits:

• You can reference analysis results months or years later for audits or legal proceedings
• Shared links remain valid indefinitely, ensuring recipients can always view results
• Historical analysis can be compared if you check the same document multiple times

What is stored permanently: Analysis metadata, modification verdict, creation/modification dates, creator/producer information, structural findings, and detection results.

What is NOT stored permanently: The actual PDF file content. As mentioned in our privacy policy, uploaded PDF files are automatically deleted from storage approximately one hour after upload. Only the analysis results remain.

This approach ensures you have long-term access to detection results while protecting your document privacy and minimizing storage of sensitive file content.

No, you cannot view or download your original PDF file from the results page. The results page displays only the analysis metadata and findings—not the document itself.

This is a deliberate privacy and security feature. We do not store PDF file content permanently, and we do not provide access to uploaded files after analysis completes. Uploaded PDF files are automatically deleted from storage approximately one hour after upload.

The results page shows comprehensive analysis information including:

• Modification status (modified/not modified)
• Modification verdict and specific findings
• Metadata (creation date, modification date, creator, producer)
• Structural findings (incremental updates, signatures, etc.)
• Specific anomalies detected

Keep your original PDF file: If you need to reference the actual document later, make sure to keep a copy on your local device. The analysis results are permanent, but access to the original file is not.

This policy protects user privacy by ensuring uploaded documents are not accessible to others through shared result links, even if the link is compromised.

Yes, and this is an important limitation to understand. Our PDF authenticity checker detects modifications to existing PDF files—we cannot determine if a brand-new PDF was created with falsified content.

Example scenario: Someone could:

• Create a fake invoice or certificate with false information
• Print or export it as a fresh PDF file
• The PDF will appear as “not modified” because it’s technically a new file, not a modified existing one

How to protect yourself: Always pay close attention to the Creation Date shown in the analysis results. Ask yourself:

• Does the creation date make logical sense for this document?
• If it’s supposedly a 2020 invoice, why was the PDF created in 2026?
• Is the creation date suspiciously recent for an “old” document?
• Does the timeline match the situation and claimed document origin?

Additional fraud detection steps for critical documents:

• Request the original file from the issuing organization directly
• Check document details with the claimed issuer (company, institution, authority)
• Check for official digital signatures or stamps
• Compare document format and layout with known authentic samples
• For scanned documents (photos of documents), request the original digital file instead

Our service is a powerful tool for detecting tampering with existing files, but it cannot replace human judgment and thorough fraud detection processes. The creation date is your first line of defense against completely fabricated documents.