STATE OF PA ADOBE TAX FORMS CONTAIN AKAMIA TECHNOLOGIES SPYWARE

[Mark]

STATE OF PA ADOBE TAX FORMS CONTAIN AKAMIA TECHNOLOGIES SPYWARE

I downloaded some state Adobe .pdf tax forms from the official PA
web site:

http://www.revenue.state.pa.us/

These forms are "fillinable" meaning you can type personal
information into the blanks and save the form on your local drive then
print out the filled in form all nice and neat. These are very handy
and it is great that the state provides this.

Once the form is downloaded, it exists on MY DRIVE so there is no
need for this to access the Internet after it has been downloaded.

Now the strange part.

When I open the form from my local drive, (not from the Internet) my
firewall tells me that Adobe is trying to contact something out on the
Internet.

Here is the readout I get:

Direction: outgoing
Local Point: 192.xxx.xxx.xxx, port 1892
Adapter: Local Area Connection
Remote Point: a204-2-179-17.deploy.akamaitechnologies.com
[204.2.179.17], port http [80]
Protocol: TCP

I looked up Akamai technologies and they are a legit server provider.

I can easily block this by going off line. After about 30 seconds
Adobe gives up trying to reach the mother ship and the form still
opens and everything works fine after that.

So here are my questions..

What info are they collecting when I open these Adobe tax forms from
my local drive?

Can I edit something in the file to stop this so I don't have to wait
for it to time out each time I open a form?

And I want to express my outrage about this spyware!!

thanks
Mark

[Ron Lopshire]

Mark wrote:
> STATE OF PA ADOBE TAX FORMS CONTAIN AKAMIA TECHNOLOGIES SPYWARE
>
> I downloaded some state Adobe .pdf tax forms from the official PA
> web site:
>
> http://www.revenue.state.pa.us/
>
> These forms are "fillinable" meaning you can type personal
> information into the blanks and save the form on your local drive then
> print out the filled in form all nice and neat. These are very handy
> and it is great that the state provides this.
>
> Once the form is downloaded, it exists on MY DRIVE so there is no
> need for this to access the Internet after it has been downloaded.
>
> Now the strange part.
>
> When I open the form from my local drive, (not from the Internet) my
> firewall tells me that Adobe is trying to contact something out on the
> Internet.
>
> Here is the readout I get:
>
> Direction: outgoing
> Local Point: 192.xxx.xxx.xxx, port 1892
> Adapter: Local Area Connection
> Remote Point: a204-2-179-17.deploy.akamaitechnologies.com
> [204.2.179.17], port http [80]
> Protocol: TCP
>
> I looked up Akamai technologies and they are a legit server provider.
>
> I can easily block this by going off line. After about 30 seconds
> Adobe gives up trying to reach the mother ship and the form still
> opens and everything works fine after that.
>
> So here are my questions..
>
> What info are they collecting when I open these Adobe tax forms from
> my local drive?
>
> Can I edit something in the file to stop this so I don't have to wait
> for it to time out each time I open a form?
>
> And I want to express my outrage about this spyware!!

Why anyone would allow scripts to be run from a PDF document is beyond
comprehension to me. Just boggles the mind. When I run into such a PDF,
I immediately delete it.

And I sure as hell would _never_ run any script developed by _any_
government entity. The OH county in which I live tries to pull that crap
with some of their forms. I just said no.

Yeah, running scripts in PDFs are handy as hell. For the data miners.

1) Download and install Foxit.

http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php

2) Do _not_ install any plugins for Foxit.
3) Delete the Helper Apps PDF settings in all of your browsers.
4) When forced to use PDF, right-click and save the PDF.
5) View and print PDFs _offline_ only.

I only download and print PDFs that I feel warrant being saved
/forever/. And I ignore all PDF hits when using a search engine. In the
two years that I have used this WinXP box, I have accumulated a grand
total of 102 PDF documents. All viewed and printed offline.

I learned a long time ago, contrary to conventional wisdom, that I do
not have to let Adobe nor the users of their products control my life.
Besides that, I only have 140 GB of free HD space which means that I
certainly do not have enough free space to download and install anything
from Adobe anyway. [bg]

Ron

[Rhonda Lea Kirk]

"Mark" <makolber@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1176729586.325049.26200@y5g2000hsa.googlegrou ps.com
> STATE OF PA ADOBE TAX FORMS CONTAIN AKAMIA TECHNOLOGIES SPYWARE
>
> I downloaded some state Adobe .pdf tax forms from the official PA
> web site:
>
> http://www.revenue.state.pa.us/
>
> These forms are "fillinable" meaning you can type personal
> information into the blanks and save the form on your local drive then
> print out the filled in form all nice and neat. These are very handy
> and it is great that the state provides this.
>
> Once the form is downloaded, it exists on MY DRIVE so there is no
> need for this to access the Internet after it has been downloaded.
>
> Now the strange part.
>
> When I open the form from my local drive, (not from the Internet) my
> firewall tells me that Adobe is trying to contact something out on the
> Internet.
>
> Here is the readout I get:
>
> Direction: outgoing
> Local Point: 192.xxx.xxx.xxx, port 1892
> Adapter: Local Area Connection
> Remote Point: a204-2-179-17.deploy.akamaitechnologies.com
> [204.2.179.17], port http [80]
> Protocol: TCP
>
> I looked up Akamai technologies and they are a legit server provider.
>
> I can easily block this by going off line. After about 30 seconds
> Adobe gives up trying to reach the mother ship and the form still
> opens and everything works fine after that.
>
> So here are my questions..
>
> What info are they collecting when I open these Adobe tax forms from
> my local drive?
>
> Can I edit something in the file to stop this so I don't have to wait
> for it to time out each time I open a form?
>
> And I want to express my outrage about this spyware!!
>
> thanks
> Mark

Reader is trying to update itself. It's getting information about
available updates. Do you have version 8 yet?

You can turn it off, if you like. Copied from "Help":
1.. Choose Help > Check For Updates.
2.. In the Adobe Updater dialog box, click Preferences.
3.. Select Automatically Check For Adobe Updates, and specify whether
you want automatic checking on a weekly or monthly basis and whether or
not you want to be asked before updates are downloaded.
4.. Make sure that the application you are running (Adobe Reader or
Adobe Acrobat) is selected as the software that will be updated.
5.. If appropriate, click Browse to navigate to the location in which
you want the downloads to be placed.

--
Rhonda Lea Kirk

You must be the change you wish to see
in the world. Mohandas K. Gandhi

[Default User]

On 16 Apr 2007 06:19:46 -0700, "Mark" <makolber@yahoo.com> wrote:

>What info are they collecting when I open these Adobe tax forms from
>my local drive?

Adobe is probably attempting to update.


>Can I edit something in the file to stop this so I don't have to wait
>for it to time out each time I open a form?

In Adobe 8.0, choose Help/Check for Updates... and then choose preferences
in the window that opens. Uncheck "Automatically check for Adobe updates".
If you are using anything below 8.0, you should update your reader.


>And I want to express my outrage about this spyware!!

It's not spyware, but they do make it a pain in the ass to turn
auto-updates off.

[Mark]

On Apr 16, 9:32 am, Default User <defa...@user1.invalid> wrote:
> On 16 Apr 2007 06:19:46 -0700, "Mark" <makol...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> >What info are they collecting when I open these Adobe tax forms from
> >my local drive?
>
> Adobe is probably attempting to update.
>
> >Can I edit something in the file to stop this so I don't have to wait
> >for it to time out each time I open a form?
>
> In Adobe 8.0, choose Help/Check for Updates... and then choose preferences
> in the window that opens. Uncheck "Automatically check for Adobe updates".
> If you are using anything below 8.0, you should update your reader.
>
> >And I want to express my outrage about this spyware!!
>
> It's not spyware, but they do make it a pain in the ass to turn
> auto-updates off.

Thanks for the replies.

I do not think it is an update issue for these reasons:

1) I have updates set for don't check automatically
2) This happens only with these .pdfs I downloaded from PA.

Therefore I do not think the issue is updates...

Can I use a text or hex editor to modify the .pfd files to remove the
scripting?

How do I determine what information they are trying to get?

Mark

[Rhonda Lea Kirk]

"Mark" <makolber@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1176752312.207411.58260@y5g2000hsa.googlegrou ps.com
> On Apr 16, 9:32 am, Default User <defa...@user1.invalid> wrote:
>> On 16 Apr 2007 06:19:46 -0700, "Mark" <makol...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>> What info are they collecting when I open these Adobe tax forms from
>>> my local drive?
>>
>> Adobe is probably attempting to update.
>>
>>> Can I edit something in the file to stop this so I don't have to
>>> wait for it to time out each time I open a form?
>>
>> In Adobe 8.0, choose Help/Check for Updates... and then choose
>> preferences in the window that opens. Uncheck "Automatically check
>> for Adobe updates". If you are using anything below 8.0, you should
>> update your reader.
>>
>>> And I want to express my outrage about this spyware!!
>>
>> It's not spyware, but they do make it a pain in the ass to turn
>> auto-updates off.
>
> Thanks for the replies.
>
> I do not think it is an update issue for these reasons:
>
> 1) I have updates set for don't check automatically

I'm not talking about it checking automatically, on a schedule.

I'm talking about Adobe Reader trying to update itself because you're
online.

> 2) This happens only with these .pdfs I downloaded from PA.

I went to the site and tried filling in the form myself. I watched
TCPView the entire time, and the program never tried to connect to
Akamai, because my program is entirely up to date.

> Therefore I do not think the issue is updates...

I think it is.

> Can I use a text or hex editor to modify the .pfd files to remove the
> scripting?
>
> How do I determine what information they are trying to get?

Someone else will have to help you there, but can't you block it from
going out with your firewall?

--
Rhonda Lea Kirk

You can discover what your enemy fears most by
observing the means he uses to frighten you. Eric Hoffer

[David H. Lipman]

From: "Rhonda Lea Kirk" <rhondalea@gmail.com>

| "Mark" <makolber@yahoo.com> wrote in message
| news:1176752312.207411.58260@y5g2000hsa.googlegrou ps.com
>> On Apr 16, 9:32 am, Default User <defa...@user1.invalid> wrote:
>>> On 16 Apr 2007 06:19:46 -0700, "Mark" <makol...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> What info are they collecting when I open these Adobe tax forms from
>>>> my local drive?
>>>
>>> Adobe is probably attempting to update.
>>>
>>>> Can I edit something in the file to stop this so I don't have to
>>>> wait for it to time out each time I open a form?
>>>
>>> In Adobe 8.0, choose Help/Check for Updates... and then choose
>>> preferences in the window that opens. Uncheck "Automatically check
>>> for Adobe updates". If you are using anything below 8.0, you should
>>> update your reader.
>>>
>>>> And I want to express my outrage about this spyware!!
>>>
>>> It's not spyware, but they do make it a pain in the ass to turn
>>> auto-updates off.
>>
>> Thanks for the replies.
>>
>> I do not think it is an update issue for these reasons:
>>
>> 1) I have updates set for don't check automatically
|
| I'm not talking about it checking automatically, on a schedule.
|
| I'm talking about Adobe Reader trying to update itself because you're
| online.
|
>> 2) This happens only with these .pdfs I downloaded from PA.
|
| I went to the site and tried filling in the form myself. I watched
| TCPView the entire time, and the program never tried to connect to
| Akamai, because my program is entirely up to date.
|
>> Therefore I do not think the issue is updates...
|
| I think it is.
|
>> Can I use a text or hex editor to modify the .pfd files to remove the
>> scripting?
>>
>> How do I determine what information they are trying to get?
|
| Someone else will have to help you there, but can't you block it from
| going out with your firewall?
|

I agree with Rhonda.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm

[Mark]

On Apr 16, 3:06 pm, "David H. Lipman" <DLipman~nosp...@Verizon.Net>
wrote:
> From: "Rhonda Lea Kirk" <rhonda...@gmail.com>
>
> | "Mark" <makol...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> |news:1176752312.207411.58260@y5g2000hsa.googlegro ups.com
>
>
>
> >> On Apr 16, 9:32 am, Default User <defa...@user1.invalid> wrote:
> >>> On 16 Apr 2007 06:19:46 -0700, "Mark" <makol...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> >>>> What info are they collecting when I open these Adobe tax forms from
> >>>> my local drive?
>
> >>> Adobe is probably attempting to update.
>
> >>>> Can I edit something in the file to stop this so I don't have to
> >>>> wait for it to time out each time I open a form?
>
> >>> In Adobe 8.0, choose Help/Check for Updates... and then choose
> >>> preferences in the window that opens. Uncheck "Automatically check
> >>> for Adobe updates". If you are using anything below 8.0, you should
> >>> update your reader.
>
> >>>> And I want to express my outrage about this spyware!!
>
> >>> It's not spyware, but they do make it a pain in the ass to turn
> >>> auto-updates off.
>
> >> Thanks for the replies.
>
> >> I do not think it is an update issue for these reasons:
>
> >> 1) I have updates set for don't check automatically
>
> |
> | I'm not talking about it checking automatically, on a schedule.
> |
> | I'm talking about Adobe Reader trying to update itself because you're
> | online.
> |>> 2) This happens only with these .pdfs I downloaded from PA.
>
> |
> | I went to the site and tried filling in the form myself. I watched
> | TCPView the entire time, and the program never tried to connect to
> | Akamai, because my program is entirely up to date.
> |>> Therefore I do not think the issue is updates...
>
> |
> | I think it is.
> |>> Can I use a text or hex editor to modify the .pfd files to remove the
> >> scripting?
>
> >> How do I determine what information they are trying to get?
>
> |
> | Someone else will have to help you there, but can't you block it from
> | going out with your firewall?
> |
>
> I agree with Rhonda.
>
> --
> Davehttp://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.htmlhttp://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I think it may be looking for updates of the DOCUMENT but not updates
of Adobe..

Yes I can stop it with my firewall but then it waits about 30 seconds
to time out before the doc opens.

So as a test, I let it go through one time with no actual private info
filled in. It contacted whatever it does, and now it doesn't try
anymore, so I don't know... I think it maybe checking for an updated
version of the document, not of Adobe, but I could be worng.

thanks
Mark

[Murps]

David H. Lipman <DLipman~nospam~@Verizon.Net> wrote:
> From: "Rhonda Lea Kirk" <rhondalea@gmail.com>
>
>> "Mark" <makolber@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:1176752312.207411.58260@y5g2000hsa.googlegrou ps.com
>>> On Apr 16, 9:32 am, Default User <defa...@user1.invalid> wrote:
>>>> On 16 Apr 2007 06:19:46 -0700, "Mark" <makol...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> What info are they collecting when I open these Adobe tax forms
>>>>> from my local drive?
>>>>
>>>> Adobe is probably attempting to update.
>>>>
>>>>> Can I edit something in the file to stop this so I don't have to
>>>>> wait for it to time out each time I open a form?
>>>>
>>>> In Adobe 8.0, choose Help/Check for Updates... and then choose
>>>> preferences in the window that opens. Uncheck "Automatically check
>>>> for Adobe updates". If you are using anything below 8.0, you should
>>>> update your reader.
>>>>
>>>>> And I want to express my outrage about this spyware!!
>>>>
>>>> It's not spyware, but they do make it a pain in the ass to turn
>>>> auto-updates off.
>>>
>>> Thanks for the replies.
>>>
>>> I do not think it is an update issue for these reasons:
>>>
>>> 1) I have updates set for don't check automatically
>>
>> I'm not talking about it checking automatically, on a schedule.
>>
>> I'm talking about Adobe Reader trying to update itself because you're
>> online.
>>
>>> 2) This happens only with these .pdfs I downloaded from PA.
>>
>> I went to the site and tried filling in the form myself. I watched
>> TCPView the entire time, and the program never tried to connect to
>> Akamai, because my program is entirely up to date.
>>
>>> Therefore I do not think the issue is updates...
>>
>> I think it is.
>>
>>> Can I use a text or hex editor to modify the .pfd files to remove
>>> the scripting?
>>>
>>> How do I determine what information they are trying to get?
>>
>> Someone else will have to help you there, but can't you block it from
>> going out with your firewall?
>>
>
> I agree with Rhonda.

Rhonda's nice, if I did nae have a lover already I'd offer her my all.
Well some of it anyways.