can pdf files contain malware?

I recently tried to open this pdf file from the mozilla browser. Instead of opening , the browser disappeared and never showed up again, even after restarting the pc. Several hours later(around 8 hrs) it suddenly opens, what the??

I scanned the pc, and nothing showed up.

 

Hello,

Documents with text only are harmless. Some documents can be enriched with active content, like scripts. These scripts are run by the rendering software, like your PDF reader. If the script is malicious and your software vulnerable to the code written in script and executed, then your system might be compromised.

Solutions:

Disable scripting in PDF software.
Use Foxit Reader rather than Acrobat Reader.
Keep the software up to date.

Mrk

 

by scripts, do you mean disabling the javascript option or is it something else?

 

Hello,
In Acrobat, yes.
Again, try Foxit. It's 1.5MB versus 150MB of Acrobat, does not install 700 useless registry keys, 10 times faster, 10 times smoother, no vulnerabilities, no need to reboot to upgrade. Free PDF document converter (printer).
Mrk