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From: analyit on 10 Apr 2010 07:56
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2362356,00.asp
In the early 90s Adobe created its Portable Document Format (PDF) for
the specific purpose of ensuring that documents look exactly the same
no matter what devices are used to view or print them. So why are
there so many exploits using the PDF format to attack computer
systems? Because Adobe lost track of its mission, that's why.
From: Mark Blain on 10 Apr 2010 18:25
analyit wrote in news:rpp0s5hlogsgvdqi8pu78397kcuu9td2s3(a)4ax.com:

> http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2362356,00.asp
> In the early 90s Adobe created its Portable Document Format (PDF) for
> the specific purpose of ensuring that documents look exactly the same
> no matter what devices are used to view or print them. So why are
> there so many exploits using the PDF format to attack computer
> systems? Because Adobe lost track of its mission, that's why.

That's yet another example of "feature creep", gradually adding macros and
other dangerous capabilities to new versions of previously-safe data file
formats.

You can make Adobe Reader a little safer *and* make it load faster at the
same time, by disabling features that you don't need. There's a step-by-
step explanation here.
http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-load-adobe-pdf-files-faster-0106647/

Of course, by the time you rip out most of the features of the app,
there's not much advantage to choosing it over one of the many freeware
alternatives... :)
From: Ian Jackson on 11 Apr 2010 08:40
In message <hps8sf$stg$2(a)news.eternal-september.org>, "Man-wai Chang to
The Door (33600bps)" <toylet.toylet(a)gmail.com> writes
>> That's yet another example of "feature creep", gradually adding macros and
>> other dangerous capabilities to new versions of previously-safe data file
>> formats.
>
>Why didn't Adobe release a tool to remove dangerous stuff (notably the
>macros) from any given PDF file? Puzzling....
>
And what about all the other PDF viewers? I'm a PDF X-Change devotee
myself.
--
Ian
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