Why can't I put the FAKE Adobe Flash Player install manager and plug-ins into the Trash without giving my password?

I had one of those SCAM Adobe Flash Player installers, and the plug-ins, jump into my downloads file. I knew not to install it, and I ran my Malware Bytes, which didn't detect anything inappropriate on my computer.

However, I still want to drag the fake installer and plug-ins from my Downloads file into the trash. But every time I do so, it asks me for my computer password in order to put them in the trash. I'm not sure if I should give the password.

I've never been asked at any other time to give my computer password to put something in the trash! Is this part of the scam, somehow? Would I be giving the malware my password?

Thank you for any help you can be.

MacBook, OS X 10.11

Posted on Nov 28, 2020 7:47 AM

Top-ranking reply

lkrupp

Level 7

22,135 points

Posted on Nov 28, 2020 9:05 AM

First rule of troubleshooting... restart your Mac and try again. Second rule of troubleshooting... restart your Mac by holding down the Shift Key while booting. This action restarts the machine in Safe Mode (it could take up to ten minutes for the restart to complete as safe mode does a lot of system maintenance while booting ). Now try deleting the files again.

No, you should not have to enter a password to delete something that remained in your Downloads folder, unless you actually did open it up.

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Why can't I put the FAKE Adobe Flash Player install manager and plug-ins into the Trash without giving my password?

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