Wednesday, June 30, 2010

About Antivirus Software: More PDF Exploits from Adobe Reader/Acrobat Flaws

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From Mary Landesman, your Guide to Antivirus Software
Viewed in static form, PDF files would be quite safe. The problem is that many PDF readers, especially Adobe Reader and Acrobat, allow active scripting that can be used to exploit vulnerabilities and infect your system. In fact, malicious PDF files are the number one vector of drive-by infections - you don't even have to knowingly open one to be infected. This week, how to protect yourself against the plethora of PDF exploits.

More Adobe Reader / Acrobat Flaws to Patch
Yesterday, Adobe released yet another round of security patches to Adobe Reader and Acrobat to address yet another plethora of vulnerabilities. Given that Adobe Reader and Acrobat are the two most common vectors of exploit (and subsequently of infection), you really need to take action to protect yourself.

Alternative Free PDF Readers
Exploits of vulnerabilities in Adobe Reader / Acrobat were the most common cause of drive-by malware infections in 2009 and remains the highest in 2010. To lower your own risk of infection, uninstall Adobe Reader / Acrobat and use one of these free alternative PDF readers instead.

How to Make Adobe Reader/Acrobat Safer
Adobe Reader comes pre-installed on most computers. And even if you never use it, just its mere presence can leave your computer at risk. If you absolutely must keep Adobe Reader or Acrobat, here are the must-follow security tips you need to make Adobe Reader and/or Adobe Acrobat safer.

White House Proposes Online Identity Plan
Cyber czar Howard Schmidt has introduced a strategy to combat identity theft - a strategy that has many security researchers scratching their head. The plan consolidates even more privacy-infringing info on citizens, then uses an already failure-prone password and logo system for verification.

 


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This newsletter is written by:
Mary Landesman
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