Adobe Gone Rogue or Hacked? | Community
Skip to main content
L
LSSu1
May 16, 2025
Question

Adobe Gone Rogue or Hacked?

  • May 16, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 816 views

Hi, I'm new to this forum, so am unsure if it's the right space to ask this question.

 

When I was accessing an unrelated website today, I happened to notice from the taskbar that another activity was in progress. Opening it showed that Adobe was unilaterally trying to open my previously downloaded files! I had not initiated any action to open any pdf files, so I quickly terminated the tab. Fortunately, the latest downloaded files had been renamed, so it couldn't find them.

 

Is it normal for Adobe to kick off such activities or has it been hacked? 

This post is no longer active and is closed to new replies. Need help? Start a new post to ask your question.

1 reply

Asheesh_Pandey
Community Advisor
Asheesh_PandeyCommunity Advisor
Community Advisor
May 19, 2025

@lssu1 Not sure, I'm following. Is this related to some Adobe/CJ Analytics reports you download or something else. Would you be able to share more details? 

    L
    LSSu1Author
    May 27, 2025

    Hi Asheesh,

    No, I was doing something else unrelated to Adobe i.e. visiting another website, when I noticed from the taskbar that there was some other activity in progress that I had not initiated. When I clicked on it, the Adobe page opened to show it was trying to open files I had downloaded from days prior.

     

    I had not initiated nor opened the Adobe application. So I was surprised to see it running. Very much a mystery which makes me wonder if someone has hacked the application.

    Asheesh_Pandey
    Community Advisor
    Asheesh_PandeyCommunity Advisor
    Community Advisor
    May 27, 2025

     

    I see... it is a valid concern. while it's unlikely that Adobe software itself has been hacked, the plausible, non-malicious reasons to my knowledge this behavior may occur are -

    • Adobe apps (Acrobat Reader) often run background services that auto-launch or check file associations. If your system or browser tried to preview a PDF Adobe Reader might auto-launch to render it.
    • Adobe Cloud may auto-fetch or pre-cache recently opened/downloaded files, especially if syncing across devices or accounts.

    Lastly, a compromised browser extension or site could trigger file openings. Let me know if you are able to recreate or find a root cause.

     

      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement

      Loading footer...