Malware Attacks Loom on Most End-Users of Adobe Reader

According to Avast Software the security company, 60% of users of Adobe Reader have un-patched editions running on their PCs making them susceptible to malware assaults, reported EWeek dated July 13, 2011.

Often when PC-operators run expired software, these assaults become easy to execute. Evidently, during the said Adobe-aimed malware assaults, an e-mail is delivered that displays a web-link for making the software up-to-date, however, when end-users follow that web-link, malware infects their PCs.

Typically, malicious PDF attack codes search for different software flaws within the host PC and when they discover a hitherto unknown flaw they exploit it for an attack. Says CTO Ondrej Vlcek of Avast Software, the majority of attack codes have been created for striking all un-patched editions rather than just one. DarkReading reported this on July 13, 2011.

Following only Microsoft Office and Web-browsers, Adobe software is the hackers' most preferred target which's routinely attacked with Trojans capable of breaking into computers through e-mail attachments that are usually maliciously crafted. Occasionally, these assaults exploit un-patched security flaws since they're targeted assaults, however, malware authors mostly try to abuse already familiar, patched security flaws.

Notably, different Adobe editions share code archives that as well imply that they share security flaws. However, researchers at Avast Software's Virus Lab didn't find previous editions of Adobe Reader having any causal connection with malware exposure.

Hence, if users miss on updating Adobe Reader they'll only put themselves in immense danger of malware-oriented assaults. Says Vlcek, it's fundamentally expected of computer operators to upgrade all applications to their fresh editions without any being prompted. But, with Adobe Reader this isn't true; consequently, users are exposing themselves to large kinds of possible e-threats, the CTO warns. TheRegister reported this on July 14, 2011.

Meanwhile, with malware assaults widespread on Adobe software, F-Secure the security company suggests users to opt for alternative PDF Reader suites as they've less chances of getting attacked. In reality, according to F-Secure, PDF applications enable the execution of JavaScript or unleashing of executables, things, which lawful files won't ever require, but features, which facilitate malware authors to make rich pickings.

Related article: Malware Authors Turn More Insidious

» SPAMfighter News - 7/23/2011