Update Adobe Reader now!
According to an Adobe report, older versions of its popular Reader application (for Windows, Linux and Mac OS) have a vulnerability “that could allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript into a browser session”.
Firefox and SeaMonkey users are strongly advised to upgrade to either version 6.0.6, 7.0.9 or 8 which are properly patched now. Mozilla is working in a work around for thee problem this as well.
Users may also want to consider using Foxit Reader a much lighter PDF reader.
Comments
S. Howard
There’s also the option of using Sumatra PDF reader – a lightweight open source PDF reader.
Michael Lefevre
I tried Foxit and wasn’t too impressed. First I had problems with installation, then having got it installed, it wouldn’t display one of the PDFs I came across later that day. Although it’s certainly faster than Adobe’s reader, the UI seemed a bit unpolished.
Also, as well as not being open source (of course Adobe isn’t either), it’s only free (as in no money) for personal use, and only available for Windows.
The marketing blurb on their website also strikes me as rather unprofessional – the English is poor and there’s a lot of text slagging off “other PDF software”. They claim there is no “adware” in their product, but then say the software does display ads, so I’m not sure how they’re defining “adware”.
Percy Cabello
Michael, regarding adware I haven’t seen an ad besides a very small banner in the menu bar for their own products, which is fair enough for me.
Also, I haven’t had a problem reading any PDF so far (about a year and a half), could you point to the document so I can try it?
I guess, as usual, it depends on how you use a certain tool. My use of PDFs is almost 100% reading: no annotation, ebooks and other stuff, so I really don’t miss any other feature.
Percy Cabello
Howard, I also keep an eye on SumatraPDF, but it’s too basic right now even for reading only. But it certainly looks promising and there’s been at least a couple of emails about a Mozilla plugin which would be great.
My hopes are on native read/write PDF support for Gecko 1.9 (Firefox 3 rendering engine), though.
MagnoliaSouth
I love Foxit! I can’t remember how I came upon it but Adobe’s application loads slower than molasses in an Alaskan January. Foxit is instantaneous. I mean *click* and it’s open. I’ve loved it ever since I got it, had no problems with the download and I’ve no idea what ad thing Michael is talking about. If there is an ad in the corner, I’ve not even noticed it so that says something I think. As for adware there isn’t any.
ffextensionguru
Been using Foxit without problems for quite sometime now and would never go back to Adobe. I don’t recall seeing ads other than what Percy mentioned for their own products. I believe what they mean by adware free is their product does not cotain any hidden ‘features’ which track your usage or do other things such as generate pop-up ads.
Frank Moorman
I have been using foxit for about 6-9 months now. I have not had a problem. It loads very quick while Adobe’s reader is slow to even on a powerful AMDx2-4400+ machine. I have not had any problems reading any documents with it either. Here is the link to Foxit’s website: http://www.foxitsoftware.com/
John Quirke
Perhaps “dump Adobe Reader now!” would have been a better headline :)
Frank Moorman
I also have used Foxit. I do not even notice the tiny add they put in the corner. As for Linux, They do have a linux version available and I have used it.
dawn
I cannot get rid of my frozen adobe install on my Mac OS 10.4.11. It just sits there even when I press exit!
Zona Firefox
I love FoxIt Reader :). PDF download is a helpful extension for manage PDF files too.
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