update to adobe reader vulnerablitiy

[robinb]

Please read
http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/2009/04/update_on_adobe_reader_issue.html

I installed foxit reader as recommended in another newsgroup
you can get it here

http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/reader/

When installing it you must make sure you uncheck the following:
and you MUST do this as a CUSTOM INSTALL

the foxit reader toolbar
anything to do with ebay (unless you use ebay)
you will see this as it goes through the installation

I found it opens pdfs as a breeze and it doesn't have the vulnerability that
adobe now has and adobe has no eta when it will be fixed

robin

 

[Alan D]

I've been using Foxit for some time now, and can endorse Robin's comments.
Fast, light, and no problems at all. Well worth trying.

Alan D

 

[robinb]

oh btw I tested it for my husband because he is a tax accountant and needs
the pdf's that allow you to write in them and foxit works fine for it
robin

 

[cyrus the virus]

Foxit works great,thanks Robin,I dumped Adobe 9.1

 

[JJ]

Robin...Did you uninstall Adobe ist before installing foxit? I disabled the
Java thing as suggested in Adobe, but haven't looked into the foxnet yet.

Thanks for any help...JJ

 

[someone]

I downloaded foxit and then disabled Adobe. I saw no recommendation to
disable Java and did not do so.

 

[JJ]

Here is the link where it tells you to check off the Java script in Adobe:

http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/2009/04/update_on_adobe_reader_issue.html

I didn't disable regular java, just the one in Adobe, and I still can use
Java.

When I do download the foxit, I will do it and then get rid of Adboe 9.1

Thanks for your input. JJ

 

[robinb]

no I have foxit in addition to adobe
I just allowed it to associated all adobe files to it
robin

 

[cyrus the virus]

I uninstalled adobe first and all the crap with it then i installed Foxit,
try it you will like it.

 

[JJ]

Thanks Robin and Cyrus. I noticed when I upgraded to Adobe 9, I got a lot of
other Adobe stuff now in my add/remove, can't even remember all the junk it
downloaded.

The version I had before didn't have all that stuff, and I truthfully don't
even know what it is all about. I'll read up on the foxit stuff, sounds like
a less complicated reader to use. JJ

 

[Bill Sanderson]

I will just mention that there are no perfect solutions here. Every program
that opens binaries from the Internet has the potential for vulnerabilities.

Some of the popular third-party Reader substitutes have had them.

So--whatever you choose to open PDF files, make sure that you know how to
keep it up to date.

 

[Randy Knobloch]

A fix is coming down the pipe, updated from what I originally sent you.
<http://securitygarden.blogspot.com/2009/05/adobe-reader-vulnerability.html>

 

[robinb]

you donot have to get rid of adobe just when foxit reader installs (I
installed it without the toolbar and the parts about ebay checked) it has a
check mark to make it the default pdf reader so if you leave it that way-
the only pdf that will open will be foxit
robin

 

[Pat Willener]

I have tried Foxit reader out of curiosity some time ago. When
installing, it offered some FREE spyware called Ask Toolbar, which was
"optional" but prechecked.

I unchecked the spyware, but was rather shocked to find that it was
installed anyway!

Thank you; I much prefer Adobe's bloatware with all its vulnerabilities
than anything that sneaks spyware on your computer.

 

[Randy Knobloch]

I have tried Foxit reader out of curiosity some time ago. When
installing, it offered some FREE spyware called Ask Toolbar, which was
"optional" but prechecked.

I unchecked the spyware, but was rather shocked to find that it was
installed anyway!

Thank you; I much prefer Adobe's bloatware with all its vulnerabilities
than anything that sneaks spyware on your computer.

Same here, Pat - bloatware or no, sneaking spyware into your supposed
"slimmer" PDF viewer is not OK by me.

I've taken the liberty of forwarding your feedback to Donna since CoU keep
a database of who bundles Ask Toolbar.

Regards,

 

[Alan D]

Just to say that I've been using Foxit for just over a year now, and have no
recollection of encountering the Ask Toolbar during the install. (Certainly
I don't have it.)

Alan D

 

[RobbL]

I don't have any spyware from FoxIt either and have never, ever seen that on
install or on updates that have passed through over the last 2 years. You
must have gotten the download from a 'suspicious' site. FoxIt is terrific!

Robb

 

[Pat Willener]

Thank you, Randy. Foxit is already listed at CoU, and updates for Foxit
and other spyware carriers are no longer published at CoU.

 

[Pat Willener]

Just out of curiosity I did it again; download from
http://www.foxitsoftware.com/ - now see the attachment...

I am aware that not all installers carry the spyware, but does that make
it any better...?

 

[Alan D]

Ah! I see! Thanks Pat. Now, I DO remember being offered the 'Foxit toolbar',
certainly - and declining it (as I decline all such supplementary offers as
a matter of course). Is the Foxit toolbar the same as the Ask toolbar? And
is it actually spyware? Googling it doesn't seem to come up with a
definitive answer.