Making a new user and starting from scratch every time there is something wrong

I have been starting new user account when I can't fix some kind of problem. Right now my Foxit Reader has been randomly popping the sign 'can't read the PDF file' when I haven't been trying to read any PDF files, especially when I'm clicking the "Apply" button in Indeed.com. Also, K meleon browser doesn't work on this user. But I'm wary of starting a new user because every time I do that, I have to download all the extensions and addons for the browser and sometimes have to download stuff too that I have already downloaded on other user.

Is there a good solution for this? Like 'copy a user except k meleon and Foxit Reader and then delete the user'?

 

Sounds like your machine is infected and is trying to use Acrobat Reader as an extended attack vector i.e. using AR to escalate permissions.

Adobe Acrobat is an extremely complicated piece of software (much more than people realize), and is riddled with security vulnerabilities.

Some of these have existed for a long time, so of these get introduced in new versions. Attackers love exploiting outdated Reader installs, and at least twice a year there's a critical "zero-day" vulnerability (meaning you are exposed even with a patched Reader install and the latest anti-virus definitions of your choosing).

Fortunately, you are using Foxit Reader and are obviously safe for now. What I would recommend is get a good anti-virus like Microsoft Security Essentials and good anti-malware like MalwerBytes. Install them, update them, run a full scan and the problems should go away.

 

There at this point no evidence or did they even mention Adobe reader is the case so let's stick to the problem the OP is having and not rant on another software that isn't the cause ok. If you have problems with Adobe that should be between you and Adobe - not directed at the OP which is connected to Foxit-let's fix this problem before jumping onto a totally unrelated problem not at hand currently.

Every piece of software is a complicated software programming and to think otherwise is just ludicrous. So let's not rag on a software which you clearly have issues with. And your saying no other software has just the same or varying degrees of flaws that can also be exploited? The higher profile programs will be targeted more then low profile programs that is the nature of exploits they target the bigger and more used programs to their benefits why target a lesser known program when you can get more with a larger used program that is how the hackers and crackers think that's not rocket science.

Dude, chill all software has exploits one point or another so to just say Adobe is the only one is very disingenuous and not to the point. And your saying no other software has just the same or varying degrees of flaws that can also be exploited?

Foxit has it's own exploits and flaws why else would they update it periodically as well? If you go by your reasoning which is based with no empirical data they shouldn't even have to update their program.....

 

That sounds like a lot like a deeper problem related to the O/S? Did you even try to use Firefox as well to see if this isn't a browser problem and not something else? That would be first thing you should do switch browser and see if the problem doesn't reappear again. And if it does that would suggest your having issues with the O/S properly assigning extensions to the right program and if you can't uninstall and reinstall Foxit and make it work by itself properly - then you will most likely if your A/V and Mal-ware doesn't fix or find a problem would mean your O/S would have to be reinstalled because this probably stems from a corrupted O/S system file that isn't recognizing the extension.

 

StormJumper's advice is pretty good. Reinstalling K-Meleon and/or Foxit, or trying alternate browsers/PDF viewers (I recently switched from Foxit to PDF X-Change due to less adware offers on installation, and have been happy with it) are good first-line solutions.

It's also possible that at least some of these PDFs are using functionality that only Adobe supports at the moment. It's annoying, and not all that common, but it wouldn't be impossible. Making sure the PDFs open properly on another computer is a good sanity check, too.

 

Thanks. Reinstalling did no good. I just made another account, and it turned out it's not that big of a deal. There's not much to be done on a new user account as long as I import the bookmarks and install LastPass, download a few more softwares, etc.

 

It seems like changing the user did not fix the Foxit Reader problem.

Attached is what appears. It sometimes appears when I'm on Firefox and doing certain activity. When I try to apply on Indeed with the 'Quick Apply' feature, it does that multiple times in a row within a few seconds (I have to click 'ok' multiple times to get rid of it).

And this happens when Foxit Reader isn't even running.