We used to fear floppy disks for transferring viruses and other nasties to our computers, then emails, maybe USB sticks, even web sites. According to rather thorough report at ZD Net, Malicious PDF files comprised 80 percent of all exploits for 2009, due to flaws Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Essentially that means that most infections that got into computers last year (mostly Windows computers) were because someone used Acrobat Reader that wasn’t up-to-date and opened an infected PDF file.
What can you do? There are several good options:
- If you use Adobe Acrobat Reader, run the updates. Get the latest version. Now. Right away. Don’t even finish reading this.
- Or you might consider using one of the many good alternative programs for viewing PDF files. A popular one is Foxit Reader.
- If you manage other people’s computers, software like Secunia Personal Software Inspector (PSI) will keep watch over each computer on which it is installed and inform you of software that outdated or at risk and offer to update it for you. You can download it from their website.
