[ale] Adobe stuff, security problems, alternatives

[Jim Kinney]

Try all the open-source PDF viewers. Some will work on multi-platform.
Fill-in forms seem to be Adobe only unless someone actually selects a
not-default check box when building the form.

Flash: there is gnash but it's not as capable as Adobe Flash. Use the Adobe
version from their website if gnash is not enough. Or skip flash altogether
and do "other things".

I think Adobe reader allows a preferences file that includes no javascript,
etc. You'll need to launch the application manually and poke the settings.

Overall, general security works better using minimal linux on system bare
iron. Run a vm for both linux and windoes desktops (for the totally
paranoid). Take snapshots once setup and pristine clean. get a bug, blow
away the image and replay a snapshot. downtime = 10 minutes.

On Tue, Feb 26, 2013 at 4:37 PM, Ron Frazier (ALE) <
atllinuxenthinfo at techstarship.com> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I'm trying to get a handle on my Adobe stuff and want to avoid security
> problems as much as possible.  I have some questions.
>
> Re: Adobe Reader.  I'm considering just replacing it due to the security
> problems.  I need something cross platform so I can run in Windows or
> Linux.  I need something that's stable and powerful.  It needs to be able
> to properly display complex PDF's like those 20 MB PDF's of topographic
> maps that I was mentioning in my thread on barometric altimeters.  These
> particular PDF's have several layers of the map, which can be turned on and
> off.
>
> For example:
>
> http://ims.er.usgs.gov/gda_**services/download?item_id=**
> 5247561&quad=Abbeville%**20North&state=GA&grid=7.5X7.5&**
> series=TNM%20GeoPDF<http://ims.er.usgs.gov/gda_services/download?item_id=5247561&quad=Abbeville%20North&state=GA&grid=7.5X7.5&series=TNM%20GeoPDF>
>
> My replacement program has to also be able to display print more
> conventional complex PDF's properly, such as those with hundreds of pages
> with lots of fonts and graphics and images, like a PDF of a magazine.
>
> For example:
>
> http://www.computerpoweruser.**com/DigitalIssues/**
> ComputerPowerUser/CP____1303__**/offline/download.pdf<http://www.computerpoweruser.com/DigitalIssues/ComputerPowerUser/CP____1303__/offline/download.pdf>
>
> I don't want my PDF reader running any JavaScript or Java or multimedia.
>  I just want it to read documents.  What is the best cross platform
> alternative to Adobe Reader?
>
> Re: Adobe Flash.  I don't think there is any good alternative to Flash,
> and lots of websites need it.  On my Mint 13 VM, it has the Mint Flash
> Plugin 11.0.1.152.  However, the Adobe plugin in the repository is at
> version 11.2.202.270.  So, should I upgrade to the Adobe version and
> uninstall the Mint version?
>
> Any help is greatly appreciated.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Ron
>
>
> --
>
> (PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to
> call on the phone.  I get about 300 emails per day from alternate energy
> mailing lists and such.  I don't always see new email messages very
> quickly.)
>
> Ron Frazier
> 770-205-9422 (O)   Leave a message.
> linuxdude AT techstarship.com
>
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-- 
-- 
James P. Kinney III
*
*Every time you stop a school, you will have to build a jail. What you gain
at one end you lose at the other. It's like feeding a dog on his own tail.
It won't fatten the dog.
- Speech 11/23/1900 Mark Twain
*
http://electjimkinney.org
http://heretothereideas.blogspot.com/
*
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