Electronics

[Icegoddess]

I got this E-mail Alert today.  I use Intego software which is why I got the alert and I checked to make sure the E-mail came from Intego(dot)com.

Security Alert

Intego discovers new malware spreading through malicious Google search results Intego has discovered new Mac malware in the wild. Researchers observed that the installer, masquerading as an Adobe Flash Player installer, is giving users instructions that bypass Apple’s built-in security measures. This new malware is identified as unique variants of OSX/Shlayer and OSX/Bundlore. Read more about this threat on The Mac Security Blog.

[Lilysmom]

@Icegoddess , thank you for posting.  Is Adobe Flash even required these days?  My MacBook Pro is 2016 I think.  LM

[Icegoddess]

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@Lilysmom wrote:

@Icegoddess , thank you for posting.  Is Adobe Flash even required these days?  My MacBook Pro is 2016 I think.  LM

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@Lilysmom I'm not sure anymore.  Up until recently I had a jigsaw puzzle app that used it, but I think it finally has eliminated the need for it although I don't like the interface as well.  

BTW, my MacBook Pro is a 2013 model.

[Lilysmom]

I appreciate the heads up @Icegoddess .  Reminds me to do a scan.  LM

[dooBdoo]

Thanks for posting this, @Icegoddess 

Those who do have Adobe Flash installed on their Mac (I do not) should always update it through your System Preferences or the developer's website.   Please, never click on the pop-ups.   

I believe it's no longer a pre-installed application on newer Macs.  It has tended to be unstable and unreliable for a very long time.  It is rarely needed now and it will be phased out by the end of 2020 -- I removed it completely several years ago and haven't needed it since then.   

If we decide we need the Adobe Flash application for a specific use, going directly to the developer's website and downloading it from there is the safest method -- the only method I would use or recommend.   

Then, consider completely removing it -- uninstall it -- rather than keeping it on the device (just my recommendation, but I think you'll find there's no need to keep it).   And, of course, never click on any pop-up that tries to tell you you need the software or need to update it -- that has been a nasty, tricky hoax for years and clearly it hasn't gone away,

Thanks, again, @Icegoddess.😊

[NickNack]

@dooBdoo  @Icegoddess   Thank you for this information.  How do you stop the pop-ups?  They pop up all the time.  I would like to eliminate the Adobe pop-ups completely.

[dooBdoo]

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@NickNack wrote:

@dooBdoo  @Icegoddess   Thank you for this information.  How do you stop the pop-ups?  They pop up all the time.  I would like to eliminate the Adobe pop-ups completely.

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@NickNack,  You're welcome.   I haven't had the Adobe Flash Player on my Mac for many years so I can't look at the specifics on my device, but you should be able to go into your System Preferences then the  Flash Player icon to disable update notifications.   Just look at the options you're given when you open the application.   Again, though, I'd recommend thinking about uninstalling it unless you're sure you use something that requires it.   There are instructions online for the preference settings, and also how to install or uninstall it. 

Adobe Flash Player will be phased out by the end of this year -- it was announced back in 2017 and applications and websites have been moving away from it since then.

[NickNack]

Thank you @dooBdoo .  When I tried to disable the updates under System Preferences it says:

"legacy loader is trying to install a new helper tool."

I would have needed to click on it to allow it to do that.  I wasn't sure if that was okay to do, so I cancelled it.  Should I click on it?  I did try to find out how to uninstall Flash Player, and l will need to do that when I have more time.  I'm not very computer savvy.

[Mz iMac]

@NickNack  "legacy loader is trying to install a new helper tool."

Legacy = outdated

When was the last time you updated Flash Player? 

Which OS are you using?

[NickNack]

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@Mz iMac wrote:

@NickNack  "legacy loader is trying to install a new helper tool."

Legacy = outdated

When was the last time you updated Flash Player? 

Which OS are you using?

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@Mz iMac   I probably updated Flash Player last week.  I'm using Mac OS Catalina 10.15.4.  That's what it says when I go into updates under Safari Preferences and click disable updates.