Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Stoney on October 22, 2011, 02:17:47 AM

Title: What's Up with Flash Installer putting McAfee crap on my computer
Post by: Stoney on October 22, 2011, 02:17:47 AM
For the most part, at least it seems, you have to keep Flash updated for various reasons.  Why in 10 hells are they bundling some McAfee crap with it, when I don't even get the choice to install it or not?  I immediately uninstalled it, but knowing McAfee, they probably have some sort of presence left behind.

I really don't like that at all...
Title: Re: What's Up with Flash Installer putting McAfee crap on my computer
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on October 22, 2011, 03:14:20 AM
For the most part, at least it seems, you have to keep Flash updated for various reasons.  Why in 10 hells are they bundling some McAfee crap with it, when I don't even get the choice to install it or not?  I immediately uninstalled it, but knowing McAfee, they probably have some sort of presence left behind.

I really don't like that at all...

It's called 'not reading what you accept while installing' syndrome.
Title: Re: What's Up with Flash Installer putting McAfee crap on my computer
Post by: Getback on October 22, 2011, 06:38:25 AM
It's called 'not reading what you accept while installing' syndrome.

Yeppers, been a victim of this.
Title: Re: What's Up with Flash Installer putting McAfee crap on my computer
Post by: SilverZ06 on October 22, 2011, 08:06:03 AM
you had a choice. there is a check box that you needed to uncheck during the accept screens. you likely didn't read and just clicked accept as 90% of people probably do.
Title: Re: What's Up with Flash Installer putting McAfee crap on my computer
Post by: Bino on October 22, 2011, 11:19:06 AM
The Java update often includes a web browser toolbar crapplication, too.  Grrrrr....  :mad:
Title: Re: What's Up with Flash Installer putting McAfee crap on my computer
Post by: Stoney on October 22, 2011, 01:50:38 PM
I didn't see a choice--guess I'll look more closely next time.
Title: Re: What's Up with Flash Installer putting McAfee crap on my computer
Post by: Tigger29 on October 24, 2011, 10:19:29 AM
I didn't see a choice--guess I'll look more closely next time.

Well they try to trick you.  One of the options will be like "I ACCEPT THE LICENSE AGREEMENT and wish to install the McAfee Suite" and the other option will be "I do NOT wish to install the McAfee Suite" and then it makes you accept the license agreement on the next page.

A way to test this is to highlight the "I DO NOT WISH TO ACCEPT" button and see if the "NEXT" button is still clickable.  If so then that means that they are trying to sneak something along with the normal install.

**EDIT:  After looking into this it looks like you have to uncheck the "McAfee" option before downloading the installer for Flash.  What I mentioned above is a common trick a lot of companies try to use but what Flash is doing is almost as bad.. at least it's easier to see.  I have circled that option in purple to make it blatantly obvious in the screenshot below:

(http://i51.tinypic.com/2802no9.gif)
Title: Re: What's Up with Flash Installer putting McAfee crap on my computer
Post by: Stoney on October 24, 2011, 11:41:35 PM
I didn't get this menu.  I guess my flash player is set for auto-download, because I got a little pop-up in the system tray that prompted me to install the update.  Regardless, I'll make sure I don't have that box checked next time.

Thanks guys...
Title: Re: What's Up with Flash Installer putting McAfee crap on my computer
Post by: Skuzzy on October 25, 2011, 05:59:29 AM
Never, ever, Ever, EVER allow anything to auto-download!!  That is an invitation to a virus/malware/worm.
Title: Re: What's Up with Flash Installer putting McAfee crap on my computer
Post by: Stoney on October 25, 2011, 12:05:29 PM
Never, ever, Ever, EVER allow anything to auto-download!!  That is an invitation to a virus/malware/worm.

So, for things like Google update, Windows update, etc. you'd recommend I just manually check for updates periodically?
Title: Re: What's Up with Flash Installer putting McAfee crap on my computer
Post by: Skuzzy on October 25, 2011, 01:06:42 PM
So, for things like Google update, Windows update, etc. you'd recommend I just manually check for updates periodically?

Absolutely.  Pay attention to those updates.  Microsoft and Google, both, like to sneak things into your system.  That is not paranoia, just good computer security practices.

A side story.  Recently two physicists from MIT approached Google about getting funding for a new quantum computer they developed.  The very nature of which prevents data from being moved from the computer without it getting corrupted.  The ultimate security for any computer.  Google turned them down, "Our business plan calls for us to know everything about everyone and this computer would defeat that business plan."
Title: Re: What's Up with Flash Installer putting McAfee crap on my computer
Post by: MutleyBR on October 25, 2011, 01:08:43 PM
For the most part, at least it seems, you have to keep Flash updated for various reasons.  Why in 10 hells are they bundling some McAfee crap with it, when I don't even get the choice to install it or not?  I immediately uninstalled it, but knowing McAfee, they probably have some sort of presence left behind.

I really don't like that at all...

You were lucky!

Recently, the flash download link was hijacked by a trojan downloader. Check this page:

http://www.threatexpert.com/report.aspx?md5=d9788b4434e3dc03d01462fcbeda9cce (http://www.threatexpert.com/report.aspx?md5=d9788b4434e3dc03d01462fcbeda9cce)

If that had been the case you would be in real trouble.

Just do as Skuzzy says: "Never, ever, Ever, EVER allow anything to auto-download!!  That is an invitation to a virus/malware/worm."

Take care all and check your 6!(specially in the Internet...)  :eek:

Mutley



Title: Re: What's Up with Flash Installer putting McAfee crap on my computer
Post by: Stoney on October 25, 2011, 04:22:28 PM
You were lucky!

Recently, the flash download link was hijacked by a trojan downloader. Check this page:

http://www.threatexpert.com/report.aspx?md5=d9788b4434e3dc03d01462fcbeda9cce (http://www.threatexpert.com/report.aspx?md5=d9788b4434e3dc03d01462fcbeda9cce)

If that had been the case you would be in real trouble.

Just do as Skuzzy says: "Never, ever, Ever, EVER allow anything to auto-download!!  That is an invitation to a virus/malware/worm."

Take care all and check your 6!(specially in the Internet...)  :eek:

Mutley





Any way to check and see if that was what I downloaded?
Title: Re: What's Up with Flash Installer putting McAfee crap on my computer
Post by: Bino on October 26, 2011, 05:33:15 AM
Any way to check and see if [the trojan horse] was what I downloaded?

Using a good anti-virus program with an updated virus signature file is probably easiest.
Title: Re: What's Up with Flash Installer putting McAfee crap on my computer
Post by: MutleyBR on October 26, 2011, 07:18:00 AM
Any way to check and see if that was what I downloaded?

Yes, Stoney.

You can do as Bino said, scan using a good, updated, anti-virus program, or go to to the previously mentioned site:

http://www.threatexpert.com/report.aspx?md5=d9788b4434e3dc03d01462fcbeda9cce (http://www.threatexpert.com/report.aspx?md5=d9788b4434e3dc03d01462fcbeda9cce)

There is a table there, called "File System Modifications".

In the left hand column, there are some file names.

For example: %Windir%\brada.dll

%Windir% stands for your Windows folder, for ex. C:\Windows

So, the filenames to look for, will in the C:\Windows folder.

Open Windows Explorer, navigate to C:\Windows folder and check if any of the mentioned files exist.

auto.msi , aviso.aas, bcef.dll, etc

If they exist, there is an infection.


Mutley

Title: Re: What's Up with Flash Installer putting McAfee crap on my computer
Post by: captain1ma on October 26, 2011, 07:35:28 AM
if you're worried about things on your machine or information being taken, theres a simple way to stop everything including downloads. create a fake user on your machine. i tend to use the name "internet". make him a limited user with no rights. now load you software from your adminstrative account, but otherwise use your internet account to play the game or just cruise the internet. should something try to load, it will not be able to, because that account(interenet) has no rights. is a cheap security tool, but it works well. ive done it on many of my customers machines and hear from them less after i do it.
Title: Re: What's Up with Flash Installer putting McAfee crap on my computer
Post by: Stoney on October 26, 2011, 08:05:49 AM
Yes, Stoney.

You can do as Bino said, scan using a good, updated, anti-virus program, or go to to the previously mentioned site:

http://www.threatexpert.com/report.aspx?md5=d9788b4434e3dc03d01462fcbeda9cce (http://www.threatexpert.com/report.aspx?md5=d9788b4434e3dc03d01462fcbeda9cce)

There is a table there, called "File System Modifications".

In the left hand column, there are some file names.

For example: %Windir%\brada.dll

%Windir% stands for your Windows folder, for ex. C:\Windows

So, the filenames to look for, will in the C:\Windows folder.

Open Windows Explorer, navigate to C:\Windows folder and check if any of the mentioned files exist.

auto.msi , aviso.aas, bcef.dll, etc

If they exist, there is an infection.


Mutley



Thanks.  Had already run a MBAM scan but I'll check this out.