Foxit adds PDF Action Inspector to spot hidden risks

Foxit has added a tool called PDF Action Inspector to PDF Editor 2026.1, designed to detect hidden security risks in PDF files.

The feature scans documents for embedded JavaScript and self-modifying behaviour that can bypass redaction, expose sensitive data, or change document output without detection.

The update is part of Foxit's latest release for Windows and macOS. Alongside the new inspection tool, it extends several document protection features across both operating systems and introduces workflow changes intended to reduce friction for business users.

PDF files are widely treated as fixed-format documents, but they can also contain active code. That creates security risks for organisations that use PDFs to exchange contracts, reports, regulated information, and other sensitive material.

The inspection tool is intended to give users visibility into document behaviours that would not normally be obvious during standard review. Foxit is positioning the release around the idea that PDFs have become a more significant security concern as document processes become more digital and more reliant on automated and AI-based tools.

"Most organizations don't realize that everyday documents can contain active code," said Evan Reiss, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Foxit Software.

"PDF Action Inspector gives teams visibility into behaviors that would otherwise remain hidden, helping them identify risks before they cause real damage," Reiss added.

Cross-platform controls

Elsewhere in the release, Foxit expanded Microsoft Azure Information Protection support to the Mac App Store version of its software. That means policy enforcement can now be applied more consistently across Windows and macOS environments for customers that use Microsoft's information protection tools.

Support for FileOpen-protected PDFs has also been added to Mac editions of Foxit Editor and Reader. The change extends access to documents protected by digital rights management rules across more devices used within organisations.

Foxit also made a series of adjustments to licensing and account access, including improvements to licensing and login stability, as well as a new licence page intended to give users clearer information about subscriptions and entitlements.

Workflow changes

Several updates focus on routine document tasks. Foxit has made changes to annotation, file splitting, and page extraction functions to simplify common workflows and reduce user error.

The release also includes further work on its AI Assistant. These changes focus on security controls, governance, and compliance alignment, reflecting increased scrutiny over how AI tools are deployed in workplace software.

The update highlights how software suppliers in the document market are responding to a shift in the role of PDFs. Rather than acting solely as read-only files, documents are increasingly embedded in broader digital processes that include automation, access controls, AI tools, and collaborative editing.

That shift has widened the range of risks linked to everyday business documents. Security concerns now extend beyond malware in attachments to include hidden scripting, content changes that may not be visible to end users, and the possibility that redacted or protected information can still be recovered or exposed.

Foxit, which says it has more than 700 million users and over 640,000 customers worldwide, competes in a document software market where suppliers are trying to balance ease of use with tighter oversight of sensitive content. The latest release underlines growing business demand for document tools that address not only editing and sharing, but also inspection and policy control.

PDF Editor 2026.1 is available for Windows and macOS.