[Computer Security] Adobe Reader and Acrobat need patching. Attacks now underway.

[mechBgon]

Adobe Reader version 8.1.2 and older has a security vulnerability.

To fix the vulnerability, update to Adobe Reader 9. I'd advise following this advice (see Update 2) and getting AdbeRdr90_en_US_Std.exe from Adobe's FTP site:

Windows ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/reader/win/9.x/9.0/enu
Mac ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/reader/mac/9.x/9.0/enu/
Linux apparently does not have a 9.x version yet

If you have Adobe Acrobat 8 proper (the full version, not the freebie Reader), update it to version 8.1.3. Links for Linux, Mac and Windows are on this page, under Solution > Acrobat 8.

Because Reader is pretty widespread software, there's a good chance the bad guys will make an effort to exploit it, so patching it is sensible. Not opening unknown PDF files is also sensible. Also, some folks also use alternative PDF readers like FoxIt.

 

[EngrPaul]

Re: [Computer Security] Adobe Reader and Acrobat (full) need patching

Thanks

 

[Uncle Bob]

Re: [Computer Security] Adobe Reader and Acrobat (full) need patching

After reading reviews of how much a memory hog the latest Adobe reader was and how slow it was, I decided to try Foxit. It's much faster than my older Adobe reader and doesn't crash like Adobe did.

 

[Lite_me]

Re: [Computer Security] Adobe Reader and Acrobat (full) need patching

+1 on the Foxit Reader suggestion. It works well.

 

[NA8]

Re: [Computer Security] Adobe Reader and Acrobat (full) need patching

+1 Foxit works pretty well.

http://www.foxitsoftware.com/

Hmmm... looks like it's only free for one year now.

 

[Lite_me]

Re: [Computer Security] Adobe Reader and Acrobat (full) need patching

Hmmm... looks like it's only free for one year now.

This only pertains to the Foxit Reader Pro Pack add-on.

 

[NA8]

Re: [Computer Security] Adobe Reader and Acrobat (full) need patching

You're right, I was following the wrong link. This one seems to be the right one:

Free version download

http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/reader_2/reader-interstitial.html