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Latest Adobe Acrobat Reader Update Silently Installs Chrome Extension (bleepingcomputer.com)

An anonymous reader writes: The latest Adobe Acrobat Reader security update (15.023.20053), besides delivering security updates, also secretly installs the Adobe Acrobat extension in the user's Chrome browser. There is no mention of this "special package" on Acrobat's changelog, and surprise-surprise, the extension comes with anonymous data collection turned on by default. Bleeping Computer reports: "This extension allows users to save any web page they're on as a PDF file and share it or download it to disk. The extension is also Windows-only, meaning Mac and Linux Chrome users will not receive it. The extension requests the following permissions: Read and change all your data on the websites you visit; Manage your downloads; Communicate with cooperating native applications. According to Adobe, extension users 'share information with Adobe about how [they] use the application. The information is anonymous and will help us improve product quality and features,' Adobe also says. 'Since no personally identifiable information is collected, the anonymous data will not be meaningful to anyone outside of Adobe.'"

4 of 145 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Funny by simcop2387 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    That'd be chrome protecting you from this shit. they've gotten pretty good at detecting and preventing these kinds of drive by installs.

  2. USE THIS by JBMcB · · Score: 4, Interesting

    https://www.sumatrapdfreader.o...

    Small. Fast. Loads DjVu and some E-Reader formats as well. No spyware.

    --
    My Other Computer Is A Data General Nova III.
  3. Re:If you have Chrome why having Acrobat Reader? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Sadly, Chrome doesn't perfectly support all PDFs yet. The usual gap is in forms. Another problem is that many forms created by software will specifically sabotage non-Adobe products. As an example: https://tax.iowa.gov/sites/files/idr/forms1/2015%201040%20fillable.pdf

  4. Re:Foxit instead by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

    Foxit is Chinese crapware.

    Don't keep Chinese crapware on your systems.