On Tue, 2007-09-04 at 22:25 -0500, Mike McCarty wrote: > Matthew Saltzman wrote: > > On Tue, 2007-09-04 at 20:13 -0500, Mike McCarty wrote: > > > >>I have some PDFs which Acrobat claims needs the "file open" plugin. > >>Does anyone know what this is, what it does, and why Acrobat Reader > >>wants me to get it? > > > > > > Coincidentally, the Numerical Recipes Web page I referred to in another > > current thread requires that very plug-in. > > > > http://www.nr.com/plugin/plugin_install.html > > Not a coincidence :-) > > And, tcpdump showed attempts to look up the website being done. > They failed. I had inadvertently ;-> pulled the DSL out of the > modem before trying to open the file. Using other than Acrobat > resulted in "this file is encrypted, please enter the password". > Also, a hidden directory ~/.fileopen with NumericalRecipes got > installed, along with another binary file. Apparently, someone > is trying to track opens to those files. > I went to the site and looked at the plugin installation page, then followed a couple of links to some discussion on the subject. They are using DRM, but not calling it that. I will cease recommending anything from Cambridge press from here on out. Sorry guys. I detest a company that thinks everyone is ripping them off (even if it is happening to some degree, I purchased the book, and I do not want anyone snooping about on my system or reading habits. Frankly, it is none of their business. I think a civil suit for peeping should be appropriate to such organizations. Just my opinion. However for now, my censureship will be that I will email my friends and tell them what the plugin does and to avoid it. YMMV. Regards, Les H
