Some serious and harmful attacks have been found in Adobe’s PDF file system. Chief research officer of F-Secure Mikko Hypponen, stated that approximately half of hacker attacks this year took advantage of week points in Acrobat Reader, meanwhile six attacks has target the reputed program. He has alert people to quit Adobe’s Acrobat Reader and change to using substitute reader.
Clearly this is an unpleasant news for all of PDF users. Adobe is the creator of PDF format and the foremost choice with PDF solution. Since this news broke out some consumers have consider using other PDF solutions instead of Adobe PDF. But they have no clue where to go next. The following will give some choices when stop using adobes.
Reading PDF
I personally stopped using Adobe PDF before security issue occur, and found a substitute for it since it takes too much time to load completely. And it uses many of system resources which make computer slowdown. There are a many light PDF readers and I want to suggest best of three:
1. Foxit Reader
Foxit is the most favored substitute to Adobe Reader. Since it’s just 2.9 MB and loads up very fast. It gives you chance to edit bookmarks in a PDF file and fill out PDF forms. The software is absolutely free for non-commercialized purpose.
2. PDF-Xchange Viewer
PDF-Xchange viewer has more features than adobe and faster, smaller as well. You can add annotations or custom stamps, comments to any PDF file without cost. It is very advantageous since it open larger files faster and pages refresh smoothly.
3. Sumatra PDF
Sumatra is a free, lean and open-source PDF viewer for Windows. It has only 1.1MB which makes it so light. It is created for comfortable easy use. Since it has only one file it can run from external USB drive. It can read PDF files well.
Creating PDF
Creating PDF is also very important part to consider. Especially if you are an eBook writer or when you create a form in PDF and email to your coworkers, Adobe Acrobat Pro is an expensive way to create a PDF. Below I have summarized some of pocket friendly options to create PDF.
1. Microsoft Word 2007 Add-in
Even though you were not aware Microsoft offers a free plug-in for Office programs to convert to PDF format. If you have an authentic updated version of Microsoft word, you can go to Microsoft Download page and download the Save As PDF Office Add – in. It convert you PDF effortlessly.
In new version of Office 2007 Service Pack 2 (SP2), the Microsoft Save As PDF add-in comes as a built into it. Which makes it easier to users.
2. PDF Online
If you prefer not to download any software to convert documents to PDF, and PDF to word, you can do it online for absolutely free.
3. PDFCreator
PDFCreator is another free tool to make PDF. It comes an open source program from SourceForge. It can create PDF files from any Windows program. Moreover, you can use it like a printer in Word or any other Windows application.
Editing PDF
When you want to edit PDF or extract some images and tables from PDF to reuse, Adobe Acrobat is not the best choice you have. Since it is $299.00 %2B Tax (standard edition) or $449.00 %2BTax (Pro edition). My preference is not to use PDF editor, because there are too many buttons to handle. Mainly PDF editors are not affordable. But I found that converting PDF in to a format like word, excel and edit it and convert it back to PDF. Here are some tools that can covert PDF in to other formats.
1. Free PDF to Word Converter
The program can extract anything in the PDF file to Word Doc file while preserving the layout. But after some time, you will have to answer a hard math question to get a just-for-once registration code before you start converting. Which is inconvenient.
2. Zamzar
This site let you to upload file and it immediately transfers to an Email address of your choice. Indeed, this very easy method to use. With free service, you can convert files up to 100MB in size and to different types, like dwg, tiff, doc etc.
3. PDF to Word Converter
With a PDF file with restrictions, you can use PDF to Word Converter. Even if you have to pay, it is easy to use and the quality is good as well. Here all the parts like links, images, text and forms can be preserved in word format. All the above mentioned components can be edited. You can also convert PDF files with restrictions with certain parts like pictures and words. This coveter is very much hassle free.
If you have some other requirements like removing passwords, making multiple PDF files into one, add watermarks. For these requirements you can use easily find other adobe alternatives, as well.