The Security Operations Centre (SOC) at Radboud University — the security team that monitors our systems 24/7 — has noticed a significant increase in the installation/use of these malicious editors, particularly among students. At the moment, the problem mainly concerns the use of AppSuite, PDF Editor PDS skills and infected versions of Manualfinder. The SOC and the management departments are taking measures to prevent further damage, but it remains important not to use this free software and to be alert to irregularities.
Tips for checking security and reliability
When using free tools, it is important to check their security and reliability yourself. You can do this by:
- Source:
Only download from the developer's official website or a reliable app store (Microsoft Store, Apple App Store). Avoid obscure download sites. - Advertising/malware:
Some ‘free’ tools contain adware or even malware. Check reviews and security warnings. - Rights and privacy:
Check whether the tool works locally on your computer or whether you first need to upload files to a server (privacy risk). And pay attention to what information you need to share about yourself (privacy risk).
