Is your anti-virus software up-to-date???

I sure hope so…

…because the bad guys and hackers have a new trick up their sleeves!

Here’s what you need to know:

PDF THREAT #1:

MORE PDFS ARE INFECTED WITH MALICIOUS CODE

Until recently, most of us thought of pdf documents as being highly safe and secure.

But now that’s changed:

Because now hackers have figured out how to embed malicious programs inside a pdf…

…so that when you open an infected pdf, you also allow the malicious code to begin running inside your computer.

Ouch!

PDF THREAT #2:

IT’S VERY DIFFICULT TO TELL IF A PDF IS INFECTED

The problem with these infected pdfs…

…is that there’s no way to look at them, and tell if they’re infected or not.

That means that no matter how reputable a website may be…

…it could still be spreading viruses and malicious code via infected pdf files that are being offered as links or downloads.

PDF THREAT #3:

INFECTED PDFS CAN WREAK REAL DAMAGE

So what happens if you open an infected pdf…

…and malicious code inside is launched inside your computer?

Frankly, that malicious code could cause all kinds of horrible stuff to happen:

• It could STEAL your banking and credit card passwords

• It could DESTROY data on your computer hard-drive

• It could turn your computer into a “ZOMBIE”…

…so that your computer is controlled by hackers and they can use it to do more of their evil deeds

PDF FIX #1:

UPDATE YOUR PDF READER SOFTWARE OFTEN

Regardless of what kind of software you use for reading pdfs…

…make sure you check for software updates often.

Why?

Because the companies that make pdf software are all aware of these pdf hacks…

…so as soon as they learn about a new security risk, they patch their software and immediately make the patch available to their users.

So if you keep your pdf reader software up to date…

…you minimize your risk that you will fall victim to a rogue piece of malicious software that’s embedded inside a pdf.

PDF FIX #2:

CHECK YOUR PDF SECURITY SETTINGS

In many pdf reader softwares…

…there’s a security setting that will let you automatically protect yourself from malicious software inside of pdfs.

With the Adobe Reader, you can choose this safer setting like this:

• Go to “Edit,” then “Preferences”

• Go to “Trust Manager”

• Unclick the box that says “Allow opening of non-pdf file attachments with external applications”

By unchecking this box…

…you make it impossible for malicious code that’s embedded inside a pdf from actually running from inside a pdf.

PDF FIX #3:

MAKE SURE YOUR ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE IS UP-TO-DATE

Today, anti-virus software is sold on an annual-subscription basis.

That means that when you pay for anti-virus…

…you are only paying for it a year at a time.

This is an important point, because it means that if you haven’t paid for anti-virus in a year or more….

…then you’re computer is probably not protected from any viruses because you’re no longer receiving anti-virus updates, so your computer is vulnerable to threats like these infected along with other threats.

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