Reading through the patch notes reveals that it isn't just Adobe Reader receiving critical updates all Adobe products require a significant patch from time-to-time. Adobe pushes updates for its apps on the first Tuesday of every month (as part of Patch Tuesday, which many tech companies observe). So, is Adobe Reader safe? If you keep Adobe Reader updated, then you should remain safe. Most of the vulnerabilities stem from JavaScript vulnerabilities in Adobe Reader, allowing an attacker to exploit the program to gain access to the host computer.
Security incidents in 2006, 2009, 2013, and 2016 required serious and immediate patching to remove critical vulnerabilities. If you're just reading the occasional PDF or printing a document or form, your regular web browser can take care of business.Īdobe Reader has a history of vulnerabilities, too. For most people, the advanced options available in Adobe Acrobat Pro (the premium version) are overkill.
