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Microsoft has been helping Adobe develop a sandbox similar to the Protected View in Office 2010. Adobe Reader Protected Mode, a sandboxing technology based on Microsoft's Practical Windows Sandboxing technique, is a new mitigation feature scheduled for the next major version release of Adobe Reader. In addition to working with the Microsoft Office security team, Adobe also learned from the Google Chrome team as well as third-party consultancies and other external groups that have sandboxing knowledge and experience.
Adobe Reader Protected Mode will be enabled by default and will ensure that all operations required to display a PDF file to the user are run in a restricted manner inside a sandbox. Actions not permitted in the sandboxed environment, such as writing to the user's temporary folder or launching an attachment inside a PDF file using an external application, are funneled through a “broker process,” which has a strict set of policies for what is allowed and what is not. This first release will sandbox all “write” calls, mitigating the risk of exploits that seek to install malware on Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, and Windows 7. In future releases of Adobe Reader, the company hopes to extend the sandbox to include read-only activities to protect against attackers seeking to read sensitive information from the user's computer.
Adobe's products are almost as ubiquitous as Microsoft's, and since Microsoft has been taking security much more seriously ever since Windows XP SP2, it made sense for cybercriminals to target software which had so many vulnerabilities waiting to be discovered. Last year, Adobe Reader took the crown away from Microsoft Office as the software with the most vulnerabilities. Brad Arkin, Senior Director of Product Security & Privacy for Adobe Systems, announced in May 2009 that a major Adobe Reader and Acrobat security initiative was underway: code hardening, incident response process improvements, and a shift to a regular security update schedule.
Microsoft's and Adobe's products compete on many fronts, but it makes sense for Redmond to help its partners in the area of security. The sandboxing approaches that Microsoft has pioneered in Office, including the sandbox for its search subsystem, the MOICE sandbox, and Protected View, are there to improve the overall state of security on Windows. The progress in security made by the Office team can thus be extended to other third-party applications for Windows, protecting the customers that Microsoft has in common with its partners.
Do you read or work with PDF files often? If so, you’ve probably needed the ability to either combine multiple files into one or split one into many at some point.
AnyBizSoft has two applications that can do just that. Their PDF Merger allows you to combine multiple PDF files into one for better organizing, archiving, and batch printing, while their PDF Splitter enables you to split PDF files–even encrypted ones–by pages, bookmarks, and page ranges.
In this article, I am going to review both of these applications, emphasizing how simple they are to use. I will also tell you where you can get these apps for free (for a limited time).
PDF Merger
PDF Merger is a standalone program that doesn’t require Adobe Reader or Acrobat to be installed in order for you to use it. It allows you to set properties and security for your newly created files, and it can remove passwords from protected files that prevent you from copying, editing, or printing.
To begin merging PDF files, you have to start by installing the program and running it. From the application’s main screen, you simply click Add Files… to select the files you would like to merge. You can import up to an astounding 200 files at one time with this program.
After adding your desired files, select any one of them and click Method. A screen will appear that allows you to select your page range and sort method. Available options include the merging of all pages, odd/even, or specific pages you type in.
Once you’ve made your selections, click the Options button to customize the properties and security for your soon-to-be merged file. Then, you can return to the home screen where you can set the file name and destination folder for the exported file.
If you’ve got everything situated just the way you like, all that’s left to do is to click the Merge button to begin the process of combining your PDFs into a single file. Check the folder for the your new document once completed.
PDF Splitter
PDF Splitter gives you a way to split large PDF files into smaller ones quickly and flexibly. Like PDF Merger, it is a standalone program that doesn’t require any other software to be installed. It allows you to split one large PDF file in multiple ways, including into several files with equal page number.
To use PDF Splitter, you first have to open the program to the home screen. Clicking Browse will allow you to select the PDF file you want to split.
Once selected, you can go under Select Split Method to choose your split settings. You can split by any amount of pages, split by bookmark, by page range to a single file, page range to multiple files, and averagely across multiple files. Customize the output folder and you’re done!
Click the Split button and PDF Splitter will go to work for you. Simply check the folder when you’re done for your newly created files.
Where Do I Get These Apps?
For a limited time only, AnyBizSoft is giving licenses to these apps away for free. All you have to do is navigate over to their Facebook page and fill in your information to be sent a free license for both apps. Once you have a license, you can download the apps from their respective pages and enter in your code to begin using them for free.
Aside from the limited time offer, AnyBizSoft is also constantly giving away free licenses for their flagship app, PDF to Word Converter 3.0.0. More details on their Facebook page.
If you’re an academic user, you can also check out their Back to School special offer page for more great deals.
Метки: software