1/12/16 - "Update Tuesday"

Adove SHOCKWAVE Player has been updated to Version 12.2.3.183

  https://get.adobe.com/shockwave/

Remark:   If you don't already have/use Shockwave, then you probably don't need it.   If you have/use it, be sure to keep it up-to-date.

The Adobe Reader/Acrobat updates insist on reactivating several associated StartUp programs (registry entries) that you might have previously disabled.

I've found the most effective way to stop them is to use CCleaner, select Tools / Startup , and then click-on and DISABLE each of the Adobe entries (if present):

Acrotray (Adobe Assistant)

ARM

SpeedLauncher

[ Not sure why, but CCleaner is doing a better job on these Adobe "pests" than WinPatrol.... ]

Adobe has released security updates for Adobe Acrobat and Reader, for Windows.  

These updates address critical vulnerabilities that could potentially allow an attacker to take control of the affected system:

 

 

Adobe Reader XI, sequential update (starting from any Windows 11.x version) to 11.0.14

https://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=6011

=========================

Remark:   For people using Reader DC (Document Cloud), or other Reader versions for Windows, you can locate your appropriate update here:  https://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=10&platform=Windows

 

For people using Acrobat  for Windows, you can locate your appropriate update here:  http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=1&platform=Windows

============

Documentation has been released as https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/reader/apsb16-02.html

and https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/ReleaseNotes/11/11.0.14.html

 

Reminder:   Adobe Acrobat X [10] and Adobe Reader X [10] are no longer supported; end-of-life was 11/15/15.

Adobe recommends Acrobat/Reader X users install Adobe Acrobat DC and Adobe Acrobat Reader DC for the latest features and security updates.

Remark:  Adobe Acrobat/Reader 11 is still available [as an alternative to DC].

https://blogs.adobe.com/documentcloud/adobe-acrobat-x-and-adobe-reader-x-end-of-support/

On this particular Win7x64SP1 system, I was offered 18 updates (9 Windows, 8 Office, Silverlight), totaling 214.2 MEG

And that's in addition to the MSRT, which I had downloaded/run earlier today, when it became available.

Remark:  I declined the recommended/optional update https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2952664 Compatibility update for upgrading Windows 7

From https://technet.microsoft.com/library/security/ms16-jan

The following 6 updates are rated CRITICAL:

MS16-001 Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (3124903)

MS16-002 Cumulative Security Update for Microsoft Edge (3124904)

MS16-003 Cumulative Security Update for JScript and VBScript to Address Remote Code Execution (3125540)

MS16-004 Security Update for Microsoft Office to Address Remote Code Execution (3124585)

MS16-005  Security Update for Windows Kernel-Mode Drivers to Address Remote Code Execution (3124584)

MS16-006  Security Update for Silverlight to Address Remote Code Execution (3126036)

=================================

The following 3 updates are rated IMPORTANT:

MS16-007  Security Update for Microsoft Windows to Address Remote Code Execution (3124901)

MS16-008   Security Update for Windows Kernel to Address Elevation of Privilege (3124605)

MS16-010 Security Update in Microsoft Exchange Server to Address Spoofing (3124557)

========================================

Observation:   There was no  MS16-009  released today.

(the embedded) Flash for IE11/ActiveX  on Win 8.1 was finally updated to 20.0.0.272 today

https://technet.microsoft.com/library/security/2755801

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3133431

The latest Adobe Reader update (v11.0.14) crashes randomly on my Win 7 Pro, 32-bit PC, but mostly when I try to save an open pdf in a different location.

And it keeps asking for access to the internet even though I set it to Never look for updates. Also have the Adobe Update Service disabled in services.msc and unchecked in msconfig. Have I overlooked some setting somewhere?  Finally just told the firewall to block Adobe without ever asking me again.

Anybody else having crash problems?

Ron,

I really don't use Reader too much... typically, just to open an already-saved .pdf

I tried --- quickly, and just once --- to save an opened .pdf to another location (opened in My Documents, then "save as..." to my Desktop), and it worked on three different machines.    If you're saying I have to repeat trying this several times, that could be another matter.   If I see related reports elsewhere, I'll be sure to let you know.

"It" keeps asking for access to the internet... you're getting a popup request from Reader itself?   Or from your firewall??   I've experienced neither... but am using "only" the Windows firewall (rather than a 3rd-party one).

I open a pdf attached to an email with Reader and then do Save As. That's when it crashes but only sometimes, not always.

"Adobe Reader has stopped responding..."

If I reopen the same pdf attachment it may or not crash the next time I do a Save As. So it seems random. Haven't seen it crash with a file already saved to a folder that's outside of Thunderbird's inbox.

ZoneAlarm firewall started popping up warnings today every time I ran Reader after the update. I finally told ZA to "always block" so it stopped nagging me. Just don't know why Reader kept asking for permission if I'd already disabled all the settings that would allow it to access the net. Got to be some other setting somewhere...