Adobe has sent out an alert (LINK: http://www.adobe.com/support/security/advisories/apsa09-07.html (http://www NULL.adobe NULL.com/support/security/advisories/apsa09-07 NULL.html)) concerning all versions of Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Acrobat Reader (v9.2 and earlier) advising that Acrobat and Acrobat Reader can be used to “Crash and potentially allow an attacker to take control of the affected system”.  "There are reports that this vulnerability is being actively exploited in the wild”. 

     What does this mean to you-

- As of now if you have either Acrobat Reader or Adobe Acrobat installed, you could get your computer infected by clicking on specifically designed pdf document that you receive via email.  It’s also likely that the email you receive would appear to be from someone you know, who would have opened the email and clicked on the pdf, infecting themselves and forwarding it to everyone in their email lists.

- As of now, the infection rate for this is still considered to be low but as with any other vulnerability that is known and “in the wild” (meaning that bad guys can go online and find out details on how to use this), it is expected that within time, you will see this vulnerability used in more ways by the bad guys.

- “Adobe plans to make available an update to Adobe Reader and Acrobat by January 12, 2010 to resolve the issue”

- In the mean time you have a couple of options

Option #1) Using the recommended steps by Adobe

disabling JavaScript in Adobe Reader and Acrobat using the instructions below:
1. Launch Acrobat or Adobe Reader.
2. Select Edit>Preferences
3. Select the JavaScript Category
4. Uncheck the ‘Enable Acrobat JavaScript’ option
5. Click OK

        Option #2) You can go to Add/Remove Programs (Control Panel –> Add/remove programs or Programs and features depending on your version of Windows) and uninstall Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Acrobat Reader and then install one of the many PDF alternatives.  TechGeekandMore recommends the Foxit Reader (LINK: http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/reader/reader-interstitial.html (http://www NULL.foxitsoftware NULL.com/pdf/reader/reader-interstitial NULL.html)) which is not currently affected by this vulnerability.

- Additionally, it is also recommended as always, to make sure your Anti-Virus, Anti-Malware software is current and updated to protect your pc.