Pop-Up Message: Spam?

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Not sure where to post this.

Recently, I started to get a pop-up "error message" saying that I needed to update my Flash Player. It happens when I go to certain familiar forum sites and attempt to log-in. These sites are ones that I have been visiting for years with no problems. According to my System Preferences, my Flash Player is fully updated.

Why is this happening?

Thanks.
 

IWT


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Don't click on any link and don't follow through on this.

Genuine updates to Flash are always notified via System Preferences in the bottom pane. You wisely checked this and confirmed everything was all right.

If you know the "familiar" sites where this message appears, you have the choice of completely ignoring the pop-ups or you could delete all cookies and website data for those sites. This would mean logging in to them afresh with username/password; but it might stop these irritating messages.

Do you use any anti Ads or anti-tracking apps or extensions, out of interest?

Ian
 
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Thanks, Ian.

I do not use any anti Ads or anti-tracking apps or extensions. I "Clear History" every morning. Now, I will manually delete user Password and, if I find them, cookies for the sites in question.
 
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While we have you here - do you need Flash? It's blocked by default on Safari, Chrome... not sure about Firefox, etc.

It's inherently insecure. And as you've seen, it's now a key vehicle for tricking Mac users into installing malware.

Unless you absolutely need it, I'd strongly suggest uninstalling it completely. I did so years ago, and can't remember the last time it was actually needed (most sites now default to HTML5 instead).

M
 

pigoo3

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Hate to say it Marrk...but if Flash Player on your Mac is totally up to date...somehow something got installed that's not "legit". I've heard of this before & I think it's been around for a while. On the positive side what was installed that's generating this fake Flash Player pop-up is not overly dangerous (if not clicked on)...not sure how serious it would be if it was clicked on.

Here's what's supposed to be a solution to remove whatever it is that's generating this Fake flash player pop-up:

How to get rid of Fake Flash Player Update POP-UP Scam (Mac) - removal guide (updated)

Please let us know if it works.

Thanks,

- Nick
 
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Instead of deleting things, install a content blocker. Depending on your OS and browser versions, here are my preferred content blockers, uBlock Origin, Ghostery, AdBlock, AdBlock Plus, AdGuard AdBlock, plenty more like that.
 
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Thanks for everyone's Reply. I'm not an expert on these matters, so you will have to bear with my dumbness.

While we have you here - do you need Flash?

I thought I needed it for video/video streaming. Example: Sites like NBC Nightly News.

- - - Updated - - -

Hate to say it Marrk...but if Flash Player on your Mac is totally up to date...somehow something got installed that's not "legit". I've heard of this before & I think it's been around for a while. On the positive side what was installed that's generating this fake Flash Player pop-up is not overly dangerous (if not clicked on)...not sure how serious it would be if it was clicked on.

Here's what's supposed to be a solution to remove whatever it is that's generating this Fake flash player pop-up:

How to get rid of Fake Flash Player Update POP-UP Scam (Mac) - removal guide (updated)

Please let us know if it works.

Thanks,

- Nick

Thanks, Nick. I will read through this.
 
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If a site requires it, I just use Chrome to access those sites. This way there is no need to have Flash installed, making my system less secure.
 
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Instead of deleting things, install a content blocker. Depending on your OS and browser versions, here are my preferred content blockers, uBlock Origin, Ghostery, AdBlock, AdBlock Plus, AdGuard AdBlock, plenty more like that.

Thanks, Bob. You have given me some homework to do. :)
 
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What I Have Discovered So Far:

1) I can Uninstall Flash Player using the Flash Player Manager in Utilities. I am told that this will completely remove Flash Player from my computer. True?
2) My brokerage site does not use Flash Player, so I don't need it for that. That's good news.
3) Do I need Flash Player for youtube.com?
 

Slydude

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There are still videos on videos some sites (YouTube and others) that require Flash but much of the rest of the world has moved on to other standards such as HTML 5. Generally videos that need Flash will make that known when you attempt to run the video. If that happens yup can either install/update Flash from the Adobe site or access the video using Chrome.
 

chscag

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The safest way is as Sly suggested and use Chrome to watch the videos. Chrome has built in flash protection.
 

Slydude

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That seems to be the right site.
 

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