Foxit Reader update blocks new PDF attack tactic
Foxit Software, the developer of a rival PDF viewer to Adobe's vulnerability-plagued Reader, released an update today that blocks some attacks with a "safe mode" that's switched on by default.
Foxit Reader 3.3 for Windows includes what Foxit dubbed "Trust Manager," which blocks all external commands that may be tucked into a PDF document. The new version is designed to stymie some common attack vectors that hackers use when they probe PCs for bugs in the PDF format, or in a viewer application.
"The Foxit Reader 3.3 enables users to allow or deny unauthorized actions and data transmission, including URL connection, attachment PDF actions, and JavaScript functions," the update's accompanying text explains.