What is this? Infection detected JS:Pdfka-ADK[Expl] HELP PLEASE ASAP?!?!

I also have this same problem on a Dell XPS (Windows 7). According to some of my own searching, it's some sort of PDF virus that uses Java... If anyone can solve this problem I'd also like to know! Thanks.

"Avast" is perhaps the worst of the whole wretched lot of commercial "security" products for the Mac. Not only does it fail to protect you from any real danger, it throws false warnings, destabilizes and slows down the computer, and sometimes or always corrupts the network settings and the permissions of files in your home folder. Removing it may not repair all the damage, and neither will Disk Utility or even reinstalling OS X.

Back up all data, then remove "Avast" according to the developer's instructions. Restart.

If you tried to remove Avast by dragging an application to the Trash, you'll have to reinstall it and then follow the instructions linked above.

Okay, so I have zero expertise in any of this but my mum's computer just got the same thing. I googled the JS:pdfka_ADK[Expl] thing and it does actually look like it's a legit virus... but I don't know how to remove it and would really appreciate some help.

This site talks about it as being kinda a legit threat: http://www.f-secure.com/v-descs/exploit_js_pdfka_ti.shtml

Any thoughts appreciated. Just it does sound like more than just a thing that Avast makes up or something.

Cheers.

This is not actually a virus, but a JavaScript on a website that targets a vulnerability in older versions of Acrobat Reader. I've never heard of Acrobat Reader vulnerabilities being used to deliver a Mac payload, and those vulnerabilities would have been closed a long time ago anyway. You're not infected with anything, you just happened to visit a site that had probably been hacked to contain a malicious JavaScript.

DO NOT allow Avast to delete anything from your machine! Avast has a serious problem with false positives, sometimes identifying system files as malicious. If you allow it to delete files, it oculd damage your system. For this reason, I do not recommend using Avast.

Thank you very much! That's really appreciated Thomas!

What would you recommend instead of Avast? Haha... ironically I did a lot of research before getting Avast! haha... obviously research in the wrong places!

Cheers

I don't necessarily recommend anything. It's far more important to understand how to protect yourself. See my Mac Malware Guide for more information about that.

(Fair disclosure: The Safe Mac is my site, and contains a Donate button, so I may receive compensation for providing links to The Safe Mac. Donations are not required.)

Went to your site, very helpful -- worth a donation too, thanks.