Re: (OT) Adobe Buys Macromedia

From: Harold Stevens (wookie_at_aces.localdomain)
Date: 04/18/05 

Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 16:31:41 -0000

In <pan.2005.04.18.14.20.02.44613@epix.net> Ann:

[Snip...]

> Speaking of pdf, beware of "call home" hooks in the Acrobat 7 reader.
> http://lwn.net/Articles/129729/

Thanks very much for the info; I was completely unaware, even though I
try to be very proactive avoiding this sort of treachery:

   By default, Adobe Reader 7 turns on JavaScript, so the "tagged"
   document is able to "phone home" without the user's awareness. Turning
   off JavaScript disables the document's code, and prevents Remote
   Approach (or any other entity) from tracking views of the document. No
   doubt, Remote Approach is using features that would normally be used
   to submit information from a PDF form.

One of the principal reasons I use FOSS is the transparency about what
a code does (in theory if not always in practice). Don't even THINK it
is OK silently backdooring my personal property with such spyware.

I had thought it would be nice to testdrive acroread v.7 if it's going
to be available on the 9.3 Pro shrinkwrap shipping to me now (or via a
YOU download maybe). However, I won't be doing that as long as Adobe's
not making their spyware very clear upfront (ALL of it), and disabling
ALL of it by default. I know: good luck with that ultimatum... :)

This article you mention links to several libre/gratis PDF viewers, so
I'll be using them instead, while waiting (maybe forever) for Adobe to
come clean about their sneakware backstabbing.

<TINFOILHAT>
Maybe this is why Adobe was footdragging recent Linux acroread ports.
</TINFOILHAT>

Thanks again for this very interesting (to me) find. 

-- 
Regards, Weird (Harold Stevens) * IMPORTANT EMAIL INFO FOLLOWS *
Pardon any bogus email addresses (wookie) in place for spambots.
Really, it's (wyrd) at airmail, dotted with net. DO NOT SPAM IT.
Kids jumping ship? Looking to hire an old-school type? Email me.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: problem running programs
    ... Rick wrote: ... > Explorer, Adobe Golive CS, Adobe Photoshop CS, Cute FTP ... > I'm thinking this may be a memory ... Remove spyware with Spybot ...
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