As a web surfer, you're going to have to access a PDF file on the web sooner or later. And to do that, you'll most likely use the free Adobe Acrobat Reader already installed on your computer.
But hackers have started exploiting this software by inserting malicious code into PDFs, which - once they are downloaded - allow the hacker to take control of your computer.
You can read more about this security issue on the web:
While Adobe continually scrabbles to release security patches for the Reader, in the meanwhile you can use the more-secure free version of the Foxit Reader for Windows operating systems. (Warning: when loading the Foxit program, you'll probably want to uncheck the box where it says to "Make Ask my browser default search provider," and also uncheck the option directly below that which says, "Set Ask.com as my home page." These options - already conveniently checked! - are hidden within a block of small text and are difficult to spot.)
- "Dangerous Adobe Reader zero-day raises the bar" (http://www.infoworld.com/print/136883)
- "Adobe patches PDF bugs hackers already exploiting" (http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9178740/Adobe_patches_PDF_bugs_hackers_already_exploiting)
While Adobe continually scrabbles to release security patches for the Reader, in the meanwhile you can use the more-secure free version of the Foxit Reader for Windows operating systems. (Warning: when loading the Foxit program, you'll probably want to uncheck the box where it says to "Make Ask my browser default search provider," and also uncheck the option directly below that which says, "Set Ask.com as my home page." These options - already conveniently checked! - are hidden within a block of small text and are difficult to spot.)
You can download the Foxit Reader from this page: http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/reader/addons.php
Additional alternatives for PDF readers are listed here: http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-non-adobe-pdf-reader.htm
To print PDFs of any document on your computer, try the free CutePDF Writer. Once installed, you can find it within the "Print" window in any program that has a print function. For Windows systems, download CutePDF Writer here: http://www.cutepdf.com/products/cutepdf/writer.asp
To print PDFs of any document on your computer, try the free CutePDF Writer. Once installed, you can find it within the "Print" window in any program that has a print function. For Windows systems, download CutePDF Writer here: http://www.cutepdf.com/products/cutepdf/writer.asp
More options for PDF printers are listed here: http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-pdf-writer.htm
Mac owners need not worry about downloading alternative software, since they already have their own built-in PDF software for viewing or printing. However, make sure you have downloaded the latest Mac OS X updates to shore up security holes in its operating system, which include PDF vulnerabilities.
"Apple issues PDF security patch and other Mac OS X updates": http://www.sophos.com/blogs/gc/g/2010/08/25/apple-issues-pdf-security-patch-mac-os-updates/"
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