Foxit adds 'safe mode' to counter PDF attacks

[severedsolo]

Foxit Corp has added new security features to its alternative PDF reader software to help thwart recent malware attacks that exploit the “/launch” feature. With Foxit PDF Reader Version 3.3, the company has added a Safe Mode that blocks external commands from being executed by the software.
The Safe Mode is a key part of a new Trust Manager in the Foxit PDF Reader.

more at: Foxit adds 'safe mode' to counter PDF attacks | ZDNet

 

[hackerman1]

hi !

why not take a look at Foxit´s OWN webpage ?
Foxit Software - Foxit Reader 3.0 for Windows

"What’s New in Foxit Reader 3.3

The following is a list of exciting new features in Foxit Reader 3.3.

• Secure Trust Manager
  The new Secure Trust Manager enables users to allow or deny unauthorized actions and data transmission, including URL connection, attachments PDF actions, and JavaScript functions; efficiently avoiding the attack from malicious contents and viruses.
• Improved Ask Search Button Setting
  Enables users to show or hide the Ask Search Button in the Preferences menu.
• Many Bug Fixes
  Fixes some bugs from previous versions including an issue where Ask Toolbar may be installed by default."

the "ASK-Searchbutton" is still there !?
considering ASK-toolbar being a securityrisk, can this "ASK-Searchbutton" be trusted ?
i do NOT want any "ASK-stuff" on my computer....

there are several other PDF-readers available, fx Sumatra.
PDFreaders.org - Get a Free Software PDF reader!

 

[Corrine]

hi !
the "ASK-Searchbutton" is still there !?
considering ASK-toolbar being a securityrisk, can this "ASK-Searchbutton" be trusted ?
i do NOT want any "ASK-stuff" on my computer....

there are several other PDF-readers available, fx Sumatra.
PDFreaders.org - Get a Free Software PDF reader!

I'm with you 100%!

 

[manhunter2826]

Wow, I used to really like Foxit Reader. Is the ASK toolbar opt-in/opt-out at the point of installation? If not, I best switch to an alternative too. Much thanks.

 

[mitchell64]

Wow, I used to really like Foxit Reader. Is the ASK toolbar opt-in/opt-out at the point of installation? If not, I best switch to an alternative too. Much thanks.

Hallo Manhunter, you have the option to deselect it during installation

EDIT; or at least you do with the exe download, don't know about the zip or msi downloads

 

[manhunter2826]

^Thanks Mitchell, very kind!

 

[hackerman1]

hi !

when i installed the previous version, (i´m not at home right now, i´m at the university, so i can´t say which version) i unchecked ALL "ASK-stuff", but i still got a ASK-searchbutton.

and there was no possibility to remove it without losing the function to search in documents....

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

this is what Foxit says: "
Foxit’s NO BLOAT PDF Reader
Small download, fast, accurate rendering
Take it with you with low cost mobile readers for your phone or PDA

"NO BLOAT" ???
then WTF is this "ASK"-bullsh*t ???

 

[manhunter2826]

Shame on them, I used to really like Foxit Reader....as the other posters usefully said, plenty of freeware alternatives which respect our privacy.

 

[severedsolo]

well I am using the latest version of Foxit i unchecked all the ask stuff, and it hasn't installed any of it

 

[hackerman1]

check your searchbutton (Control+F)...

going to install it later today, then i´ll check myself.

 

[severedsolo]

on wht application? explorer firefox and Foxit all have no signs of ASK

 

[hackerman1]

on Foxit of course, what else ?

if you want to search for a word /words in a pdf-file, then there is a small window at the top-bar where you enter the word, my last installed Foxit-reader had "ASK" to the left of that window.

if you don´t see the searchbutton then you perhaps have removed it from the top-bar ?
right-click with your mouse on the bar and select search, and then see what happens...

 

[severedsolo]

well as i said, no sign of ASK,

 

[hackerman1]

hmmm ?

installing later...

 

[hackerman1]

i have installed Foxit reader 3.3 now.

during the installation there is:
first the ASK-Installchecker that wants to connect to Internet !?

then an infoscreen saying "New features include the following...
the 2nd line is "Improved Ask Search Button Setting"

after accepting the License Terms comes the next screen showing the toolbar,
beneath it is a line saying:
"Foxit Toolbar powered by Ask.com"

then it´s still the same PRECHECKED options:
1. i Accept the License Terms and want to install Foxit Toolbar
2. Make Ask.com my default search
3. Reset my homepage to Foxit Startpage

after clicking next and selecting where to install (if custom install)
then clicking next again and selecting desktop settings (Icon etc.)
the next screen says:"Setup Completed"

the first 2 options is run Foxit Reader & View Readme.txt
the 3rd PRECHECKED option is to:"Create desktop, quick launch and start menu icon to eBay.

after starting Foxit i started looking for the ASK-searchbutton,

if you click on "Tools" then "Preferences", then the 8th setting "Internet search", then the 3rd option is "Hide Ask.com Search Button".

WOW !

it REALLY looks safe...:huh:

 

[SIW2]

This works well for me TIFF, PDF, DjVu, Comic Book Archive (CBR or CBZ), XPS viewer

 

[hackerman1]

thanks SIW2 !

just had a quick look at it.

 

[Corrine]

Thanks for the report, hackerman.

 

[hackerman1]

you are welcome Corrine.
btw, any comments on stduviewer that SIW2 mentioned above ?

www.stdutility.com/stduviewer.html

 

[Corrine]

From the review at Softpedia

The Good

The best part about this app is its simplicity, both regarding its ease of use and in terms of resource usage. It doesn’t need a lot to work and yet it gets the job done, and that is enabling users to view technical and scientific documentation with no effort on their part.

The Bad

A larger number of extensions that can be viewed would be an improvement – an all-in-one piece of software that sees not only documentation but also images, sketches or even graphs that can come with such documents. The file association feature is the worst thing about the app, because it tampers with how your system works.

The Truth

All in all, STDU Viewer offers pretty much everything that you would expect from a free piece of software. It offers good quality for the files that are being viewed and doesn’t require a lot of system resources or experience on the user’s part.

I really don't want an all-in-one and particularly do not care for programs that mess with the standard file associations.