{"id":3436,"date":"2026-02-18T11:03:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T19:03:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/itservices\/?p=3436"},"modified":"2026-02-18T11:03:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T19:03:08","slug":"malware-in-disguise-free-pdf-tools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/itservices\/2026\/02\/malware-in-disguise-free-pdf-tools\/","title":{"rendered":"Malware in disguise: free PDF tools"},"content":{"rendered":"

PDF tools are everywhere online. Need to convert something to PDF, merge files, or split one? A quick search brings up dozens of websites promising free and instant results. But cybercriminals are increasingly using unsafe PDF websites and software to distribute malware, or to collect your sensitive information.<\/p>\n

Why free PDF tools are risky<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. Malware<\/strong>: some of these tools do not return a real document, or they will bundle the document with something malicious. It may infect your device with malware, or harvest your credentials via a fake login page.<\/li>\n
  2. Data<\/strong> loss<\/strong>: When you upload a copy of your document to a website, you are sending it to someone else’s servers. Some untrustworthy websites use this to harvest data. Be especially cautious with PDFs that contain personal and financial information, and do not upload these kinds of documents to unknown websites.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What to do instead<\/strong><\/p>\n

    UFV provides employees with Adobe Acrobat, which can be used to view and edit PDFs. For help with common tasks, see our knowledgebase:<\/p>\n