Do not download software from the Your Flash Player Is Out Of Date scam site

What is "Your Flash Player Is Out Of Date"?

This untrusted website tricks visitors into downloading and using a fake Adobe Flash Player installer, which installs a potentially unwanted application (PUA). Typically, these fake installers install browser hijackers or adware, however, they might also infiltrate Trojans, ransomware or other malicious software.

In any case, such rogue websites never download the official Adobe Flash Player installer. They can never be trusted. Note that people do not often visit these deceptive websites intentionally - typically, they are opened PUAs already installed on browsers and/or operating systems.

This website claims that the installed version of Adobe Flash Player is out of date and encourages visitors to download and install the 'latest version'. In fact, it downloads a file named "AdobeFlashPlayerInstaller.dmg", which is a fake Adobe Flash Player installer.

Rather than installing the latest Adobe Flash Player version, it installs a PUA. Typically, scammers behind these websites seek to trick visitors into installing browser hijackers, adware or other PUAs. Browser hijacking apps promote fake search engines by changing browser settings and gathering browsing data.

In some cases, they collect sensitive, personal information. Adware can also track information. Additionally, adware-type apps serve intrusive advertisements. If clicked, these open potentially malicious pages or execute scripts that cause download/installation of unwanted software.

As mentioned, fake Adobe Flash Player installers are used to proliferate malware such as Trojans and ransomware. Trojans are malicious programs that often cause chain infections - they infect systems with other malicious programs. Ransomware is software that encrypts data with strong encryption algorithms and prevents victims from accessing or using their files.

Typically, the only way to decrypt files is using tools that can be purchased only by the cyber criminals who designed the ransomware.

Therefore, unofficial websites that offer to update Adobe Flash Player should never be trusted. By using files downloaded from them, many people risk becoming victims of identity theft, encountering data/monetary loss, problems relating to privacy, browsing safety, and so on.

Threat Summary:

Name	Your Flash Player Is Out Of Date pop-up
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Fake Claim	This page claims that Adobe Flash Player is out of date.
Related Domains	mainspotvideosfree[.]best
Serving IP Address (mainspotvideosfree[.]best)	212.83.148.175
Symptoms	Your Mac becomes slower than normal, you see unwanted pop-up ads, you are redirected to dubious websites.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake Flash Player installers, torrent file downloads.
Damage	Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites, loss of private information.
Malware Removal (Mac)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your Mac with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner for Mac To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Many deceptive websites are designed by scammers who seek to trick visitors into installing unwanted software through fake Adobe Flash Player installers.

Some examples of other, similar pages include worldofcontenting[.]info, theultimatesafevideoplayers[.]info and startmostnewestprogram[.]icu. Typically, these sites are opened through other untrustworthy websites, deceptive advertisements or installed PUAs.

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

In most cases, potentially unwanted apps are installed when people click deceptive advertisements that download/install them by running certain scripts, or when people download and install free software. PUAs are included in the download/installation set-ups of various programs and presented as additional offers.

This distribution method is called "bundling". Developers use it to trick people into downloading and installing unwanted apps with regular software.

In most cases, offers to download/install additional apps (PUAs) are hidden in "Custom", "Advanced" and other settings of the set-ups When people download and install software without checking or changing these settings, they often allow PUAs to infiltrate.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

All software (especially if it is free) should be downloaded from official websites and via direct links.

Sources and tools such as Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule), unofficial websites, third party downloaders, installers, etc., should not be trusted, since they are used to distribute PUAs. Check "Custom", "Advanced" and other settings of the software setup and decline offers to download/install unwanted software.

Do not click advertisements that are displayed on dubious websites - they can open untrusted websites or download and install unwanted, potentially malicious software. Remove all unwanted, suspicious extensions, add-ons and plug-ins that are installed on the browser immediately.

Also remove software of this kind that is installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.

Text presented in the initial pop-up window:

Software update
Your Flash Player is out of date
Downloading new updates...
Updating takes a few seconds and no restart is needed after installation.
Update Download Flash...

Text in the background page:

Software update
Update your Flash Player

Install the latest Flash Player for better performances.
Update Now

"Flash Player" is an essential plugin for your browser that allows you to view everything from video to games and animation on the web. The version of “Flash Player" on your system does not include the latest security updates and has been blocked.

The version of this plug-in on your computer doesn't include the latest security updates. Flash cannot be used until you download an update.

Click   "Download Flash"

Install updates and enjoy performances.

Screenshot of the other two pop-up windows:

Text in the larger pop-up window:

1 Go to the ‘Downloads’ Open your downloads list by
clicking on the top right corner
the ‘arrow’.
2 Open the file Locate and double-click the file
starting with ‘Flash Player’.
3 Run the application Confirm the installation by clicking
Continue and Install
buttons. Type your password.

Text in the smaller pop-up window:

Flash Player update
Install latest version of Flash Player in order to continue watching.
Download

Appearance of "Your Flash Player Is Out Of Date" scam (GIF):

Appearance of another variant of "Your Flash Player Is Out Of Date" scam (GIF):

Screenshot of the fake Adobe Flash Player installer and "AdobeFlashPlayerInstaller.dmg" file:

 

Another screenshot of the fake Adobe Flash Player installer ("DivX_Setup.dmg"):

Yet another variant of "Your Flash Player Is Out Of Date" pop-up scam:

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▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner for Mac By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is Your Flash Player Is Out Of Date pop-up?
• How to identify a pop-up scam?
• How do pop-up scams work?
• How to remove fake pop-ups?
• How to prevent fake pop-ups?
• What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?

How to identify a pop-up scam?

Pop-up windows with various fake messages are a common type of lures cybercriminals use. They collect sensitive personal data, trick Internet users into calling fake tech support numbers, subscribe to useless online services, invest in shady cryptocurrency schemes, etc.

While in the majority of cases these pop-ups don't infect users' devices with malware, they can cause direct monetary loss or could result in identity theft.

Cybercriminals strive to create their rogue pop-up windows to look trustworthy, however, scams typically have the following characteristics:

• Spelling mistakes and non-professional images - Closely inspect the information displayed in a pop-up. Spelling mistakes and unprofessional images could be a sign of a scam.
• Sense of urgency - Countdown timer with a couple of minutes on it, asking you to enter your personal information or subscribe to some online service.
• Statements that you won something - If you haven't participated in a lottery, online competition, etc., and you see a pop-up window stating that you won.
• Computer or mobile device scan - A pop-up window that scans your device and informs of detected issues - is undoubtedly a scam; webpages cannot perform such actions.
• Exclusivity - Pop-up windows stating that only you are given secret access to a financial scheme that can quickly make you rich.

Example of a pop-up scam:

How do pop-up scams work?

Cybercriminals and deceptive marketers usually use various advertising networks, search engine poisoning techniques, and shady websites to generate traffic to their pop-ups. Users land on their online lures after clicking on fake download buttons, using a torrent website, or simply clicking on an Internet search engine result.

Based on users' location and device information, they are presented with a scam pop-up. Lures presented in such pop-ups range from get-rich-quick schemes to fake virus scans.

How to remove fake pop-ups?

In most cases, pop-up scams do not infect users' devices with malware. If you encountered a scam pop-up, simply closing it should be enough. In some cases scam, pop-ups may be hard to close; in such cases - close your Internet browser and restart it.

In extremely rare cases, you might need to reset your Internet browser. For this, use our instructions explaining how to reset Internet browser settings.

How to prevent fake pop-ups?

To prevent seeing pop-up scams, you should visit only reputable websites. Torrent, Crack, free online movie streaming, YouTube video download, and other websites of similar reputation commonly redirect Internet users to pop-up scams.

To minimize the risk of encountering pop-up scams, you should keep your Internet browsers up-to-date and use reputable anti-malware application. For this purpose, we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS.

What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?

This depends on the type of scam that you fell for. Most commonly, pop-up scams try to trick users into sending money, giving away personal information, or giving access to one's device.

• If you sent money to scammers: You should contact your financial institution and explain that you were scammed. If informed promptly, there's a chance to get your money back.
• If you gave away your personal information: You should change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication in all online services that you use. Visit Federal Trade Commission to report identity theft and get personalized recovery steps.
• If you let scammers connect to your device: You should scan your computer with reputable anti-malware (we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS) - cyber criminals could have planted trojans, keyloggers, and other malware, don't use your computer until removing possible threats.
• Help other Internet users: report Internet scams to Federal Trade Commission.

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