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Helpful answers
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Jul 14, 2015 7:42 AM in response to Kay94564by rkaufmann87,★HelpfulFirst Chrome has Flash integrated into it, however there are problems using Chrome in that it is a severe resource hog. If you are okay with that then continue using it or consider using another browser. As for the Flash popup, navigate to Adobe's website and install from there, if the messages continue then you likely have installed some adware. In order to remove it, please download AdWare Medic or manually locate the adware and remove it.
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Jul 14, 2015 7:53 AM in response to rkaufmann87by Kay94564,Thanks. I did go directly to Adobe site and checked that I already had the latest version. And I checked AdWare Medic because my first thought was adware was present, but no adware was detected. This is really puzzling. Any other thoughts??
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Jul 14, 2015 8:00 AM in response to Kay94564by rkaufmann87,The next time the yellow message appears, can you capture it in a screen capture and post it?
Also, post an EtreCheck report of your system. We can look to see if there is anything obvious that is causing the problem. You can get EtreCheck by clicking http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck
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Jul 14, 2015 8:49 AM in response to rkaufmann87by Kay94564,I'm a computer newbie, so I can't figure out how to post the screen shot.
EtreCheck says Flash Player is outdated too, but when I go to Adobe 18.0 appears to be the latest version: Flash Player: Version: 18.0.0.203 - SDK 10.6 Outdated! Update
And finally, Chrome says that Chrome users don't even have to update Adobe Flash, that it's done automatically.
Sorry to be so long-winded!!!
EtreCheck:
Problem description:
Using Chrome browser. Getting repeated messages that Adobe Flash Player is blocked because it is outdated. Checked that it is up-to-date, but continue to get the message.
EtreCheck version: 2.2 (132)
Report generated 7/14/15, 8:08 AM
Download EtreCheck from http://etresoft.com/etrecheck
Click the [Click for support] links for help with non-Apple products.
Click the [Click for details] links for more information about that line.
iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2011) (Technical Specifications)
iMac - model: iMac12,1
1 2.7 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 4-core
16 GB RAM Upgradeable
BANK 0/DIMM0
8 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
BANK 1/DIMM0
8 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
BANK 0/DIMM1
Empty
BANK 1/DIMM1
Empty
Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported
Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n
AMD Radeon HD 6770M - VRAM: 512 MB
iMac 1920 x 1080
OS X 10.10.4 (14E46) - Time since boot: 1:57:59
ST31000528AS disk0 : (1 TB)
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 999.35 GB (856.64 GB free)
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB
HL-DT-STDVDRW GA32N
Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)
Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Seagate Backup+ Desk 3 TB
EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 315 MB
Seagate Backup Plus Drive (disk1s2) /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive : 3.00 TB (2.57 TB free)
Apple Internal Memory Card Reader
Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus
Mac App Store and identified developers
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Click for support]
[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist [Click for support]
iTunesHelper Application Hidden (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)
FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 18.0.0.203 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
Flash Player: Version: 18.0.0.203 - SDK 10.6 Outdated! Update
AdobePDFViewer: Version: 9.0.0 [Click for support]
Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10
SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.3.9 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
Silverlight: Version: 5.1.30317.0 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️
Flash Player [Click for support]
Mobile backups: OFF
Auto backup: YES
Volumes being backed up:
Macintosh HD: Disk size: 999.35 GB Disk used: 142.70 GB
Destinations:
Seagate Backup Plus Drive [Local]
Total size: 3.00 TB
Total number of backups: 122
Oldest backup: 2013-09-03 20:11:20 +0000
Last backup: 2015-07-14 14:48:01 +0000
Size of backup disk: Excellent
Backup size 3.00 TB > (Disk size 999.35 GB X 3)
2% WindowServer
1% fontd
0% taskgated
0% askpermissiond
912 MB kernel_task
311 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(2)
213 MB mds_stores
197 MB Google Chrome
131 MB Mail
Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️
12.00 GB Free RAM
4.49 GB Used RAM
0 B Swap Used
Jul 14, 2015, 06:09:20 AM Self test - passed
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Jul 14, 2015 8:55 AM in response to Kay94564by rkaufmann87,I don't see anything in the EtreCheck report.
To take a screen shot, click Mac keyboard shortcuts - Apple Support where you will find the keyboard shortcut. To post the screen shot, click the camera icon when you click reply to this message and then navigate to where the screen shot is stored.
Finally, consider using another browser. Try using Safari for awhile and see if the issue continues.
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Jul 14, 2015 9:11 AM in response to rkaufmann87by Kay94564,Thanks for all of your help. I updated Chrome and reported the problem to Google. Maybe they will get back to me. If so, I will share with the community.
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Jul 14, 2015 9:54 AM in response to Kay94564by Linc Davis,The update alerts are fake, and are intended to dupe you into installing malware or disclosing private information so that your identity can be stolen.
You might get the alerts when visiting a website that has been hacked. Don't visit the site again. If applicable, notify the site administrator of the problem, but don't send email to an unknown party.
If you get the alerts when visiting more than one well-known website, such as Google, YouTube, or Facebook, then they may be the result of an attack on your router that has caused you to get false results from looking up the addresses of Internet servers. Requests sent to those sites are redirected to a server controlled by the attacker. It's possible, but less likely, that the DNS server used by your ISP has been attacked.
Back up all data.
Unlock the Network preference pane, if necessary, by clicking the lock icon in the lower left corner and entering your password. Cllck Advanced, open the DNS tab, and change the server addresses to the following:
8.8.8.8
8.8.4.4
That's Google DNS. Click OK, then Apply.
In Safari, select
Safari ▹ Preferences... ▹ Privacy ▹ Remove All Website Data
and confirm. If you’re using another browser, empty the cache. Test. If the fake update alerts stop, see below. Otherwise, ask for instructions.
The router's documentation should tell you how to reset it to the factory default state. Usually there's a pinhole switch somewhere in the back. It may be labeled "RESET." Insert the end of a straightened paper clip or a similar tool and press the button inside for perhaps 15 seconds, or as long as the instructions specify.
After resetting the router, quit the web browser and relaunch it while holding down the shift key. From the Safari menu bar, select
Safari ▹ Preferences... ▹ Privacy ▹ Remove All Website Data
and confirm. Do the equivalent if you use another browser. Open the Downloads folder and delete anything you don't recognize.
Then go through the router's initial setup procedure. I can't be specific, because it's different for every model. The key points are these:
1. Don't allow the router to be administered from the WAN (Internet) port, if it has that option. Most do.
2. Set a strong password to protect the router's settings: at least ten random upper- and lower-case letters and digits. Don't use the default password or any other that could be guessed. Save the password in your keychain. Any password that you can remember is weak.
3. If the router is wireless, or if you have a wireless access point on the network, use "WPA 2 Personal" security and set a different strong password to protect the network. If the router or access point doesn't support WPA 2, it's obsolete and must be replaced.
During the time the router was compromised, you were redirected to bogus websites. If you ever connected to a secure site and got a warning from your browser that the identity of the server could not be verified, and you dismissed that warning in order to log in, assume that your credentials for the site have been stolen and that the attacker has control of the account. This warning also applies to all websites on which you saw the fake update alerts.
Check the router manufacturer's website for a firmware update.
If you downloaded and installed what you thought was a software update, ask for instructions.
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Jul 14, 2015 11:02 AM in response to Linc Davisby Kay94564,Thanks for all of this information. First of all, my ISP is Comcast. As a computer newbie (a REAL newbie at that), I'm kind of overwhelmed right now. In spite of my confusion, I think I was able to do most of what you suggested: I changed the DNS settings as you suggested on my Comcast account -- will that create any problems with Comcast since the settings were so very different. I am using a wireless router/modem provided by Comcast, and it is already set to WPA2 already. I just changed my password also. And, I went to Safari preferences and selected "remove all website data" Didn't see an option to do this in Chrome?? And I backed up my iMac.
Now I guess I will just sit back and see if I've been successful.
Thanks for all of this information. It was very helpful.
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Jul 14, 2015 11:08 AM in response to Kay94564by Paul_31,Chrome has just been updated to incorporate a Flash update. Launch Chrome and from the Chrome menu select 'About Chrome'. It should update Chrome to the latest version. You'll be prompted to restart Chrome.
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Jul 14, 2015 11:48 AM in response to Kay94564by Old Toad,You might want to reconsider using Chrome as your browser after reading this: Google Chrome Listening In To Your Room Shows The Importance Of Privacy Defense In Depth.
Google is known to "phone home" with users data as was found out with this new Google Photos service: Google Photos may be free — but there's still a cost.
Just some food for thought.