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madisonNYC Author

Level 1

9 points

How do I get rid of Adobe flash update virus on Safari browser?

Hello. I've been having problems with a pop-up asking me to update my adobe flash player in my Safari browser. It blocks everything - and if I close it - it closes the entire site I was trying to reach. I know it's a virus/scam/malware because when I go to the adobe site, it says my flash is up to date.

This only occurs with the Safari browser - not with Chrome or firefox. I've tried using malwarebytes and Avast - and neither find the malware.

I've tried clearing my caches and that doesn't work either.

Does anyone have a solution?

MacBook Pro 13", macOS 10.13

Posted on Mar 4, 2020 11:50 PM

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37 replies

madisonNYC Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 10, 2020 7:00 PM in response to MrHoffman

I removed Avast, Malwarebytes, Easy-WebPrint app, and other old Canon printer apps.

I'm not sure how to remove Java. When I do a search, there seems to be a lot of JavaScript files. Do I just move the JavaAppletPlugin.plugin into the trash? Will deleting the plugin remove all of it?

I couldn't find anything called "Paragon" - so I don't know where to find it or how to upgrade it.

I kept Flash for now because I have needed it in the past for certain sites. But if you think it's related to the Flash update virus, then I'll delete it.

After all of this - the Flash Update virus is still there.

Mar 11, 2020 6:46 AM in response to madisonNYC

Remove Flash, and see what (if anything) breaks. If there’s no Flash installed, you know any Flash references are scams.

Adobe is retiring Flash, and Flash has never existed on iPad and iPhone, and no large websites require it. A few games, yes. For the rest of us, no.

Java is not JavaScript.

I’ll leave this to somebody else, as you seem intent on your own approach, and your own path.

madisonNYC Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 11, 2020 11:08 AM in response to madisonNYC

I deleted the Malwarebytes, Avast, Silverlight, Easy-WebPrint, and Flash - as you asked.

The only one I haven't deleted is Java because I don't know how. I asked you if I just delete the Java plugin - but you didn't respond.

And now the situation is even worse in Safari. I now - have both the Adobe flash player update virus popup - but ALSO a popup on top of that that says "watchingextremelycurrentapplications.best - which freezes everything until I force quit it. Ugh!

How do I get rid of this virus??!!!!

John Galt

Level 10

145,934 points

Mar 11, 2020 12:09 PM in response to madisonNYC

Please gather and post an updated EtreCheck report, and consider the possibility the network equipment you are using (specifically, its router) has been subjected to malicious tampering.

The way to recover from that is to reset its hardware and reconfigure it.

Reset Safari's history and website data (again).

madisonNYC Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 11, 2020 12:52 PM in response to madisonNYC

In the EtreCheck report - I'm not sure why it still lists Flash Player - since I used the Flash uninstaller to remove it.

Also, not sure why it shows NTFS - as I dragged it to the trash.

Oh - I just noticed that I didn't empty the trash.

So, I'll empty it and re-do the EtreCheck report.

madisonNYC Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 11, 2020 1:12 PM in response to John Galt

How do I enable full drive access?

When I click the EtreCheck download icon, it just asks for the name of the problem and then "start Etrecheck" - and it starts scanning. When it's finished, there's only one report - which is copied here. .. Do I have to pay money for a different kind of scan?