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Technical News & Discussion => Windows News & Discussion => Topic started by: Rik on Mar 10, 2010, 12:23:31

Title: Adobe Reader - dangerous to use.
Post by: Rik on Mar 10, 2010, 12:23:31
El Reg (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/03/09/adobe_reader_attacks/) reports that:

QuoteAdobe's ubiquitous Reader application has replaced Microsoft Word as the program that's most often targeted in malware campaigns, according to figures compiled by F-Secure.

Files based on Reader were exploited in almost 49 per cent of the targeted attacks of 2009, compared with about 39 per cent that took aim at Microsoft Word. By comparison, in 2008, Acrobat was targeted in almost 29 per cent of attacks and Word was exploited by almost 35 per cent.

"Why has it changed?" F-Secure asks here. "Primarily because there has been more vulnerabilities in Adobe Acrobat/Reader than in the Microsoft Office applications."

Underscoring the surge of Reader attacks, online thugs recently unleashed a new malware campaign that exploits vulnerabilities patched three weeks ago in the widely-used program. The attacks target financial institutions with a PDF file with a name that refers to the so-called Group of 20 most influential economic powers.

Time to switch...
Title: Re: Adobe Reader - dangerous to use.
Post by: Ray on Mar 10, 2010, 12:24:58
I switched about 3 or 4 years ago, Rik. :)
Title: Re: Adobe Reader - dangerous to use.
Post by: Rik on Mar 10, 2010, 12:25:59
Me too, Ray, Foxit first and then PDFxChange Viewer, which I've found much better:

http://www.docu-track.com/product/pdf-xchange-viewer
Title: Re: Adobe Reader - dangerous to use.
Post by: Baz on Mar 10, 2010, 12:27:23
snap  :iagree:
Title: Re: Adobe Reader - dangerous to use.
Post by: Ray on Mar 10, 2010, 12:29:45
Quote from: Rik on Mar 10, 2010, 12:25:59
Me too, Ray, Foxit first and then PDFxChange Viewer, which I've found much better:

http://www.docu-track.com/product/pdf-xchange-viewer

I agree, Rik, I also switched to PDFXchange Viewer from Foxit about a year ago, it's much better. :thumb:
Title: Re: Adobe Reader - dangerous to use.
Post by: Rik on Mar 10, 2010, 12:30:28
That's three votes for. Any against? :)
Title: Re: Adobe Reader - dangerous to use.
Post by: Simon on Mar 10, 2010, 12:55:17
I'm still with Adobe, as I can't be arsed to change, and it seems F-Secure are on top of things. 
Title: Re: Adobe Reader - dangerous to use.
Post by: Rik on Mar 10, 2010, 13:03:01
You hope. PDFxChange is smaller and faster.
Title: Re: Adobe Reader - dangerous to use.
Post by: JB on Mar 10, 2010, 14:22:57
PDFXchange Viewer here for several months now.
Title: Re: Adobe Reader - dangerous to use.
Post by: Gary on Mar 10, 2010, 14:38:31
I use the one built into OSX, I would not touch Adobe its the Leerdammer of security
Title: Re: Adobe Reader - dangerous to use.
Post by: Noreen on Mar 10, 2010, 17:34:01
I use PDFxChange Viewer since I read the opinions previously posted on this forum. ;D
Title: Re: Adobe Reader - dangerous to use.
Post by: Glenn on Mar 10, 2010, 17:37:59
I told the PC admins at work, they are now considering dropping the Reader.
Title: Re: Adobe Reader - dangerous to use.
Post by: Den on Mar 10, 2010, 18:01:47
There are a number of things that I require to open (daily reports from the alarm central station) that will not open in anything but adobe. So I therefore stick with adobe but I find it OK.
Title: Re: Adobe Reader - dangerous to use.
Post by: Rik on Mar 10, 2010, 18:05:58
Any idea what's producing them, Den, I've never had a file fail to open.
Title: Re: Adobe Reader - dangerous to use.
Post by: Niall on Mar 10, 2010, 18:27:12
I'm still using adobe as there isn't much I use it for anyway. The only things I've downloaded recently are the presentations my sisters other half makes for Uni, and the fitness workouts from mens health. Plus I keep things updated, security wise.

I just need that bleedin' Riffworks site to work properly in Firefox as Opera makes me sad :D
Title: Re: Adobe Reader - dangerous to use.
Post by: john on Mar 10, 2010, 20:08:51
I'll stick with Adobe for now. If the hackers olbige you to change the apps you use then they've won.
Title: Re: Adobe Reader - dangerous to use.
Post by: D-Dan on Mar 10, 2010, 20:12:48
Another vote for PDF-XChange viewer - I've been using it for 2 - 3 years both at home and at work, and it's never failed me yet.

I was also one of the vocal recommenders for it when the topic came up a while back :)

Steve
Title: Re: Adobe Reader - dangerous to use.
Post by: D-Dan on Mar 10, 2010, 20:13:52
Quote from: john on Mar 10, 2010, 20:08:51
I'll stick with Adobe for now. If the hackers olbige you to change the apps you use then they've won.

And if you break both your legs when you fall out of that tree, don't come running to me ;)

Steve
Title: Re: Adobe Reader - dangerous to use.
Post by: john on Mar 10, 2010, 20:25:33
Quote from: D-Dan on Mar 10, 2010, 20:13:52
And if you break both your legs when you fall out of that tree, don't come running to me ;)

Steve

Gosh things are more serious than I thought, I didn't realise they could inflict physical injuries on you now  :eek4:
Title: Re: Adobe Reader - dangerous to use.
Post by: D-Dan on Mar 10, 2010, 20:34:35
 :rofl:

I'm suitably tickled :)

Steve
Title: Re: Adobe Reader - dangerous to use.
Post by: Rik on Mar 11, 2010, 01:03:33
Was it a feather duster then, Steve? :)
Title: Re: Adobe Reader - dangerous to use.
Post by: drummer on Mar 11, 2010, 01:11:54
Quote from: john on Mar 10, 2010, 20:08:51
I'll stick with Adobe for now. If the hackers olbige you to change the apps you use then they've won.

In all honesty, it was the bloat and slow loading of Adobe Reader that made me move to the free version of Foxit.
Title: Re: Adobe Reader - dangerous to use.
Post by: wecpcs on Mar 11, 2010, 12:26:56
Quote from: Noreen on Mar 10, 2010, 17:34:01
I use PDFxChange Viewer since I read the opinions previously posted on this forum. ;D

I did likewise.

Colin