Cyber crooks using emails with PDF to hack devices; here are tips on how to protect yourself from such cyber threats

Developed by Adobe, PDF (Portable Document Format) is one of the most preferred file formats to present data with text, images and videos across computers, phones and other digital devices worldwide.

Last year, Adobe revealed that over 400 million PDFs were opened, and 16 billion PDFs were edited on its apps. More than 87 per cent of employees in corporate companies globally exchange PDF files on the Internet.

This has caught the attention of cybercriminals, who have devised malicious techniques to inject malware into PDFs and target naive users.

Now, Checkpoint has revealed that more than 68 per cent of cyber attacks are delivered through email, and PDF-based attacks now account for 22 per cent of all malicious email attachments.

Most people perceive PDF files as genuine documents, and threat actors use this to their advantage by hiding harmful URL links, code, or other malicious content.

Computer and smartphone owners are advised to exercise caution while opening emails with PDF attachments. Here are some tips on how to safeguard yourself against such cyber attacks:

1) Use common sense. Always ignore and delete emails from unknown senders

2) Even if the email is from a person with a familiar name or a popular company known to you, read it carefully. Cyber crooks use lucrative offers as bait, such as cash prizes or job offers with high CTC and tell you to click on a URL link or a PDF to get more information. Do not press any link or download any file.

3) Never install apps from third-party app stores or links marketed on social media platforms. Always download apps from Google Play or Apple App Store, or Microsoft Windows Store

4) It is good practice to install an anti-virus application from well-known publishers on your device

5) Always update your device to the latest version to protect yourself from new emerging cyber threats

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