Should Adobe auto-update Flash and PDF Reader?

Adobe needs to find a way to make sure that all of the users of its software are updated automatically, according to a leading security researcher.

Mikko Hypponen, chief security researcher for F-Secure, said that users were not typically found vulnerable through their operating systems, but rather through plugins and add-ons found inside internet browsers.

This means software such as Adobe PDF Reader and Flash, Java or Quicktime. While Windows is updated automatically, these are still left unpatched and therefore vulnerable to new exploits.

This is especially dangerous as Adobe Flash has a bigger market share than even Windows, and Mac and Linux users often had it on their systems. Of these users, 80 per cent ran old Flash.

It is also problematic that users aren't required to click on a Flash or PDF file, as you can get infected by simply browsing a website.

"That's the way that attackers gain way, and if you look at the market share of things like Adobe Flash or the PDF reader plugin, they are huge," said Hyponnen.

"Most of them are not up to date. Microsoft can do this, so Adobe should be able to do this as well."

Security exploits against QuickTime plugins were also an issue, which users often didn't install but found in their systems.

"It's because I have an iPod," Hyponnen said. "And because I have an iPod I have to install iTunes. When I install it will, without asking me, install QuickTime automatically."

QuickTime automatically installs a plugin inside a web browser, which means that if there is a flaw, it could be exploited.

"I'm not concerned with updating QuickTime. I've never even installed it," he added.

Adobe had not responded to request for comment at the time of publication.