While their malware hides inside macros scripts, an infected PDF file will contain malicious JavaScript code. The mechanics are very similar to virus-infected Microsoft Word files. PDFs can have viruses that come embedded with a code that makes documents signable and (somewhat) editable. Let's see what dangers can hide within PDF files and how to counter them. Worse still - your PDF might turn out to be nothing but a virus disguised as a PDF file. When you download a book, hard-to-find scientific report, or free PDF template for your small business (especially if such documents come from untrustworthy websites), you might find a nasty surprise inside. Start your free 7-day trial of Clario now (no credit card required.) With Clario, you’re not only getting all encompassing real-time anti-malware protection, but also 24/7 assistance from a dedicated team of security professionals. Pro tip: If you want to protect your computer and mobile devices from all possible threats, use a reliable and versatile solution. And a virus hiding within a PDF file can quickly infect your computer, be it a PC or even a Mac. Unfortunately, this means that malicious code can be lurking within or alongside such scripts. They work inside PDFs with the help of special scripts. The “fill & sign” abilities of PDFs are where the danger lies. Since you cannot just open a PDF and edit it as you please (even if you have special and often pricey software), PDFs are used for contracts, bank statements, and any other important documents that need to be signed and sent. PDF files are not easily editable compared to rich text files like Microsoft Word's DOCX or Apple's PAGES files. Instead, it's everything else in these files combined with the reader software that activates possible threats. It can be found everywhere from schools to offices and banks, successfully replacing print-outs - and that's why malicious actors love it, too.Ĭan a PDF file contain a virus? The answer is definitely yes, but it's not the text or illustrations in PDFs that can harm your device. The Portable Document Format - or PDF as we know it - is probably one of the most frequently used file formats for sending documents.

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