How can I disable "ConnectedPDF"? (When Foxit PDF Cloud is unwanted)

Question

Abstract

Since Version 8 the Foxit Reader every user gets this Starupscreen and is urged to connect to the PDF Cloud.

This feature is unwanted on our customers terminal servers (and, as I suspect, on the most comercial used systems.)

I found a way that seems to disable the function, but I'm unsure if it is correct. And I found no way to do it centrally for all user.

Current Successes

• Disabled the Foxit Reader Service

  • Result: The ConectedPDF seems not to be available any more, but every user gets an UAC dialog when starting Foxit. After canceling the dialog, Foxit can be used regulary.

• Disabled the plugins Cloud Reading and ConnectedPDF for one affected user.

  • Result: The UAC doesn't come any more. Foxit works.

Question(s)

• Is this the correct way to disable ConnectedPDF?
• If so, is there any way to disable the plugins for all users on the terminal server?

Answer 1

It would seem that deselecting "show start page" under File/ Preferences/ General/ Application Startup gets rid of that annoying ConnectedPDF nonsense. (I call it nonsense but it is of course yet another scam to take ownership of our data.)

Answer 2

I found this on Foxit's own site. I'll reproduce it here in case the link ever breaks.

Basically, you have 2 choices.

For End Users

Manually Disabling cPDF specific plugins

1. Open Foxit program, go to Help menu > About Foxit Plug-Ins, find dedicated plugins “ ConnectedPDF DRM, CPDFOCLink and ConnectedPDF”, click on the disable icon to disable them.

2. Open the Run dialog box, type services.msc to open Windows Services console. Double click on the Foxit Reader/ Phantom Service to open the Properties dialog. Set Start-up type to Disabled, click on Apply and click on Stop.

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For IT Admins

Option 1. Use GPO

Use GPO templates listed at http://cdn01.foxitsoftware.com/pub/foxit/GPO/enu/ , pick up and download an appropriate file. Once you have the GPO template set in place, implement the following steps.

1. Open Group Policy Editor, go to Computer or User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Classic Administrative Templates (ADM) -> Foxit PhanotomPDF 8.0 -> ConnectedPDF -> double click on Disable ConnectedcPDF Features -> check the option Enable -> click on Ok to apply the change.

2. Stop Foxit Service: Open Command Prompt and type the following:

   net stop FoxitPhantomService OR net stop FoxitReaderService

   Sc config foxitPhantomSerivce start=disabled OR Sc config foxitReaderSerivce start=disabled

Option 2. Use XML file

An XML file to force settings on users, you can create and distribute an XML file to a dedicated folder on Users’ machine to turn cPDF features off. Below are steps:

• Distribute the XML file into “C:Program Files (x86)Foxit SoftwareFoxit PhantomPDFProfStore”.
• Restart PhantomPDF, cPDF features shall have been disabled.
• Stop Foxit Service:

• Type the following:

  net stop FoxitPhantomService OR net stop FoxitReaderService

  Sc config foxitPhantomSerivce start=disabled OR Sc config foxitReaderSerivce start=disabled

Option 3. Use MST file with MSI Installer

If you want to disable cPDF features when deploying MSI installer file, you can use the MST file to implement it.

• Download an appropriate version of Foxit Customization Tool (FCT) from here. https://help.foxitsoftware.com/kb/available-customization-tools.php
• Run FCT, click on File to open the appropriate MSI installer file.
• In the General tab, click on Browse button under Replace ProfStore.xml to add the XML file (ProfStore .XML). See Use XML file section for how to creating an XML file.
• Everything is done, click on File > Save to save current settings as .mst file.
• Use the following command to apply MST file msiexec /i Setup.msi TRANSFORMS=xxx.mst

Please Note: cPDF service may be still running in the background. You can disable it by launching Command Prompt, and type the following stop service:

net stop FoxitPhantomService OR net stop FoxitReaderService

Sc config foxitPhantomSerivce start=disabled OR Sc config foxitReaderService start=disabled

Source How to turn off ConnectedPDF (cPDF) ?

Answer 3

If you are somehow hosting the software on your server to your client-users then, uninstall and reinstall doing the following:

Check "Custom Installation" on the initial screen:

Uncheck "ConnectedPDF" (and whatever other extensions and plugins that are undesirable) from the 'select components to install' screen:

Obviously, this same method will work on a client to client basis, as well (but, that would be wrist-slittingly tedious, if you have a LOT of users....)