Fix 14 Security Issues by Updating Adobe Acrobat and Reader
Adobe usually updates its products once a month to provide new security updates, but the company has just released an additional update that addresses 14 security threats facing Adobe PDF desktop applications (Windows and macOS). This is an important update that affects the following applications:
- Adobe Acrobat 2017
- Acrobat 2020
- Acrobat DC
- Adobe Reader DC
- Acrobat Reader
All fourteen errors that Adobe fixes pose a threat to your PC, but three of them are especially critical and leave your system open to remote access. It’s as if a hacker could use an unblocked backdoor to install malware or access your files and programs. Remote access threats are dangerous, but downloading a new security patch fixes the vulnerabilities.
Some other errors are related to Adobe Flash. Flash is a notoriously useless security issue , but a new patch removes it from Acrobat and Reader, which should hopefully make them safer to use in general.
All Acrobat and Reader apps will download and install an additional patch automatically over time, but Adobe recommends that users update their software manually to keep their devices and data secure.
There are several ways to accomplish this. The first way is right in the Acrobat or Reader menu:
- Open Acrobat or Reader
- Go to Help> Check for Updates.
- The app warns you if an update is available. Follow the instructions on the screen to install it.
You can also download the latest Adobe apps directly from the download page (be sure to uncheck the boxes to install additional malware that comes with the apps). Run the installer and select program update.
Finally, you can update Acrobat if you’ve installed it through Creative Cloud:
- Open Creative Cloud.
- Select Applications.
- You can click Update All to install any pending updates, or click Update next to each app to fix them individually.
- If you do not see pending updates, click the “…” button and select “Check for Updates”.
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