SERIOUS SECURITY QUESTION: Safest App to read PDF files?

NiceAndShy said:

I keep thinking that since there's a pro version, there must be something that the free version contains

I often hear read people saying that if the product is free then the "user data" is the payment and this really frightens me.

I use Bitdefender Internet Security. The firewall "tells" me any time that any program tries to go online.
It has NEVER told me that about Sumatra.

Here's the github link.

GitHub - sagargurtu/lector: 📖 A simple PDF Reader built using Electron and PDF.js

Here's a screenshot of a document open.

NiceAndShy said:

Thank you for your reply, but I had a look at the website and the only option I have is to download the App but no mention of a manual/features/about???

It's basic so it doesn't need a manual.
Alternative link and short review.Download Lector 1.1.0

If you get it from the author's site then it's fine. The license allows anyone to modify it but if those versions exist for distribution then they will only be available elsewhere.

lector/LICENSE at master . sagargurtu/lector . GitHub

You won't find many decent reviews or suggestions because it's very basic. If you just want to read PDF's it's fine. Most users want more functionality so look for more features and use something else.

Personally I've used:

Foxit
PDF-XChange viewer
Nitro Reader
Okular for windows
Sumatra
FreeFileViewer
FileVoyager
Libre Office
Open Office
WPS Office
Inkscape
Scribus
IceCream PDF app
Soda PDF
Ghostscript (For PDF's in Irfanview)
AbleWord

and probably many others.

NiceAndShy said:

I often hear read people saying that if the product is free then the "user data" is the payment and this really frightens me.

That pretty much applies to every mainstream browser.

I don't understand why you are not restricting the choices that you have mentioned to PDF Viewers only. You keep including Editors but stated that you don't want to be able to make any changes/ edits so scrub those off the list.

I'm still using AbleWord as default PDF viewer/ editor but that's no good for you as documents can be edited.

I do not understand what you are trying to do.

If the PDF you read is not locked down, you will always be able to make some mods with just about any reader.

PDFs can be locked down, so they cannot be printed or edited, but from your context that is not what you want.

It is quite difficult to accidentally change a PDF ifthat is your concern.

When I got started using .pdf files many companies had far-flung offices that used different programs such as word processor and spreadsheet. The idea for .pdf was pretty much that the home office could create .pdf files using a full-blown editor then send those files to the offices but make the free Reader available, did not rely upon every office having the same program. The .pdf file could be secured against several things such as editing, printing, etc., shows in Properties of the file, that way the offices couldn't change anything, great for contracts, company policies, etc., everyone got the same thing. I've had a copy of Adobe Acrobat for the last 20+ years, it's a bit old but I got it when a project required it but included the rather high cost back then. Bottom line, if a .pdf file is secured it can't be changed except by the author.

NiceAndShy said:

I keep thinking that since there's a pro version, there must be something that the free version contains

Not really - freeware > Pro version usually implies that there's NOT something in the freeware version that the Pro version provides. Pro versions are an "upgrade" from the freeware version.

You/We shouldn't be starting with MS Edge as a benchmark to compare other pdf readers with - Edge is a web browser, with a tacked on ability to read pdf files that MS has forced upon the user .... and has the ability to steal back the default pdf app status after certain updates.

And it's normal for most freeware products to offer the option of adware/demoware/trialware of other products. It's just up to the user to always choose the custom install option (often a bit hidden) to bypass these, rather than the blind clicking during installation Yes > OK > OK > Yes > Install

This is really tin-foil hat territory, any dedicated pdf reader will meet your requirements

- Adobe Acrobat Reader (sans the trialware/demoware during the install)
- Foxit Reader
- PDF-Xchange viewer (just make sure you get the freeware viewer. It's been discontinued from the designers website - in favour of a paid version - but it's still around on other sites)
- Sumatr
.... et al infinitum
All freeware, all upgradable to paid versions.