Many may question the relevance of needing Adobe Reader but there are several use cases that the open source versions of reading tools simply do not provide.

More on it too here: Adobe abandons Linux. If you need native Adobe Reader support on Linux, 9.x is your only option! 10 doesn't list Linux as being supported, and likely never will. Of course, you could replace Adobe Reader with another free PDF reader like Foxit Reader just be aware that alternative readers often have the same vulnerabilities as Adobe Reader, so you should set any reader to update automatically and disable JavaScript.NOTE: The 9.x branch of reader has been EOL'd as of June 26, 2013. These 2 steps will go a long way toward keeping Adobe Reader secure.

In the Categories list on the left, click JavaScript.

If you find that a certain PDF won't work without it, then you can always turn it on just for that PDF. Most people don't need JavaScript in Reader, so turn it off. Many of the exploits of Adobe Reader have involved PDFs with malicious JavaScript.

In the Categories list on the left, click Updater.

In Adobe Reader, click Edit, then Preferences.

Adobe recommends automatic installation to ensure that you always have the latest version. Software is supposed to simplify life, right? Let it worry about keeping itself updated so you don't have to. These steps will only take you a few minutes.įirst, set Adobe Reader to update automatically. There are a few things you can do to reduce your risk of falling prey to a malicious PDF.

Just check out the Adobe Security bulletins and advisories page for the long list of security updates Adobe has released recently. Adobe Reader, the ubiquitous PDF reader, has become increasingly targeted by malware.

Updating adobe acrobat