World’s Largest PDF Archive Created to Aid Malware Research
Introduction
In an effort to enhance internet security, data scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have assembled the world’s largest open-source archive of PDFs. The archive, consisting of 8 million PDFs, will facilitate further research to identify and address online threats embedded within PDF files. This groundbreaking project is part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) SafeDocs program, which aims to bolster cybersecurity measures for PDF users.
Understanding PDFs and the Need for the Archive
PDFs, short for portable document format, are widely used across various sectors for sharing important documents such as contracts, legal papers, and design files. However, PDFs can be complex and vulnerable to exploitation. Malicious actors can hide malicious code within PDFs or manipulate the information presented to different users. To combat these issues, a comprehensive collection of real-world PDFs is crucial to provide software experts with a shared and freely available resource for analyzing and enhancing PDF technology.
A Digital Feat: Building the Corpus
The creation of the PDF archive was no small feat. JPL’s data scientists began by utilizing Common Crawl, an open-source repository of web-crawled data. The crawl, conducted between July and August 2021, identified approximately 8 million PDFs. However, due to a file-size limitation, the crawl only captured incomplete versions of larger PDF files. To obtain the complete PDFs, the JPL team devised specialized software that refetched the truncated files from their respective web addresses.
Furthermore, the team extracted various metadata from each PDF, including information about the software used to create the file. Additionally, they utilized geolocation software to identify the server location of the source website for each PDF. Overall, the complete data set of the PDF archive amounts to approximately 8 terabytes, establishing it as the largest publicly available corpus of its kind.
The Impact and Potential of the PDF Archive
The PDF archive serves as a valuable resource for researchers, developers, and privacy experts alike. Beyond examining and addressing specific threats, researchers can investigate ways to enhance file-creation and editing software to better safeguard personal information.
Software developers also stand to benefit from this vast collection of PDFs. They can use the corpus to identify and rectify bugs in their code and ensure compatibility between different versions of software and PDFs. By enabling researchers to work with a standardized data set, the PDF archive fosters the comparison of analysis techniques and experiments, facilitating open and repeatable science.
Simson Garfinkel, the creator of a previous corpus of 1 million files, including thousands of PDFs, emphasizes the significance of the PDF archive. He states that PDF is one of the most critical file types on the internet and that this contribution of 8 terabytes of data will serve as a valuable reference for years to come.
Editorial: Safeguarding the Digital World Through Collaboration
The creation of the world’s largest PDF archive marks an important milestone in the ongoing battle to secure the internet. JPL’s efforts to collaborate with the nonprofit PDF Association and DARPA’s SafeDocs program demonstrate the significance of collective action in addressing cybersecurity challenges.
PDFs play a crucial role in various sectors, where the integrity and confidentiality of information are paramount. By building a comprehensive and publicly accessible PDF archive, JPL is empowering researchers, developers, and privacy experts to proactively tackle existing and emerging threats.
However, it is essential to acknowledge that this archive alone is not a panacea for internet security. The constantly evolving nature of cyber threats requires continuous vigilance, collaboration, and innovative solutions. This PDF archive serves as a valuable tool in this ongoing battle.
Advice
For users and organizations dealing with PDF files, it is vital to adopt best practices to mitigate potential risks. Here are a few recommendations:
- Ensure Software and Plugins Are Updated: Regularly update PDF viewers and related software to benefit from the latest security patches and enhancements.
- Exercise Caution When Opening PDFs: Be wary of opening PDFs from unknown or untrusted sources. Consider scanning files with reliable antivirus software before opening them.
- Verify the Authenticity of Documents: When dealing with sensitive documents or contracts, ensure their authenticity by cross-referencing them with trusted sources or contacting the sender directly.
- Implement Document Validation Tools: Utilize tools that can check the integrity and safety of PDF documents, looking for signs of tampering or suspicious content.
- Practice Safer Browsing Habits: Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading PDFs from websites. Stick to reputable sources and exercise discretion.
By following these best practices, individuals and organizations can strengthen their defenses against potential threats embedded in PDF files.
Citation: “World’s largest PDF archive to aid malware research has been created” (2023, June 14). Retrieved from https://techxplore.com/news/2023-06-world-largest-pdf-archive-aid.html
<< photo by The National Library of Medicine >>
The image is for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the actual situation.
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