Malwarebytes to the Rescue

[jeffreyfranz]

Once again, after a long period free of hassle, I got the evil message, "Your Adobe Flash Player is out of date and needs to be updated." In a weak moment or because I was out of practice, I clicked on it. Now, I say evil because, while you download the Flash Player, voila! you are also downloading the infuriating Mac Cleaner. This is, if not malware, junk ware. Don't bite on it. If you are unsure how clean your Mac is, go here:

www.Malwarebytes.com

A year or two ago, others on this site turned me on to it when I couldn't figure out how to clean junk off my MB Air, so I am passing on the favor.
I have no affiliation with the company. Good luck, Jeffrey

 

[chscag]

Adobe Flash Player updates are safe to download PROVIDED you download them from the Adobe site and nowhere else. If you download from sites like CNET or Softronic, etc, you're going to also download malware at the same time.

 

[jeffreyfranz]

Adobe Flash Player updates are safe to download PROVIDED you download them from the Adobe site and nowhere else. If you download from sites like CNET or Softronic, etc, you're going to also download malware at the same time.

Yes, thank you for that clarification.

 

[reiichiroh]

Official downloads from Adobe site for end users includes bundled offers. Not officially malware but potentially unwanted apps or PUAs.

 

[StarShot]

Once again, after a long period free of hassle, I got the evil message, "Your Adobe Flash Player is out of date and needs to be updated." In a weak moment or because I was out of practice, I clicked on it. Now, I say evil because, while you download the Flash Player, voila! you are also downloading the infuriating Mac Cleaner. This is, if not malware, junk ware. Don't bite on it. If you are unsure how clean your Mac is, go here:

www.Malwarebytes.com

I was wondering where that DAMN Mac Cleaner came from. I do remember getting that "adobe flash out of date" message.

 

[webbga]

Once again, after a long period free of hassle, I got the evil message, "Your Adobe Flash Player is out of date and needs to be updated." In a weak moment or because I was out of practice, I clicked on it. Now, I say evil because, while you download the Flash Player, voila! you are also downloading the infuriating Mac Cleaner. This is, if not malware, junk ware. Don't bite on it. If you are unsure how clean your Mac is, go here:

www.Malwarebytes.com

A year or two ago, others on this site turned me on to it when I couldn't figure out how to clean junk off my MB Air, so I am passing on the favor.
I have no affiliation with the company. Good luck, Jeffrey

About 3 years ago I deleted everything Flash off my system and decided to live without it. One of the better decisions I have made. Don't miss it a bit. When I got my new Mac at the beginning of 2016 it came without Flash and I kept it that way. Anytime I see a Flash add pop up I know it is a malware attempt. One the one or two occasions where a video would not play in Safari I opened it in Chrome and it played just fine. I had to remove Mac Cleaner from my system once. Takes some time, but it is worth it. I have never read anything positive about Mac Cleaner.

 

[LV426]

Adobe Flash Player updates are safe to download PROVIDED you download them from the Adobe site and nowhere else. If you download from sites like CNET or Softronic, etc, you're going to also download malware at the same time.

Er... given that Adobe Flash player is super-buggy and gets patched so often, it’s best avoided completely wherever possible. If I go to a website that says I need to install the Flash player, I just say no thanks.

 

[StarShot]

Er... given that Adobe Flash player is super-buggy and gets patched so often, it’s best avoided completely wherever possible. If I go to a website that says I need to install the Flash player, I just say no thanks.

I'm going with that from now on. In the past I think I installed Adobe Flash several times. NO MORE...

I've been researching Malwarebytes and it appears to be a legit program. So far I'm using the free version but am considering going with the $40 a year deal. Just getting tired of all the Mac Cleaners, Mac Keeper and other programs that keep popping popping up on my MBA.

 

[HDFan]

Adobe Flash Player updates are safe to download PROVIDED you download them from the Adobe site and nowhere else.

Official downloads from Adobe site for end users includes bundled offers. Not officially malware but potentially unwanted apps or PUAs.

Another way to update is via Settings. I've never had any issues updating from there:

 

[steve62388]

I haven't come across a site for a year or longer that needs Flash. Just remove it.

 

[jlc1978]

Er... given that Adobe Flash player is super-buggy and gets patched so often, it’s best avoided completely wherever possible. If I go to a website that says I need to install the Flash player, I just say no thanks.

I hear you. I would do that but unfortunately there are a couple of must access sites that still use Falsh so I am stuck. I ignore the out of date popups; I just wish I could dump Falsh altogether.
[doublepost=1542373099][/doublepost]

I'm going with that from now on. In the past I think I installed Adobe Flash several times. NO MORE...

I've been researching Malwarebytes and it appears to be a legit program.

It is; I've used it for years.

As for MacKeeper if you search for threads here you'll see a lot of discussion.

 

[chscag]

Most sites are now using HTML5 rather than Flash. And if you're a Chrome user, Flash is built into the browser.