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M
matsig
Participant
October 24, 2010
Question

Why is Adobe installing McAfee software by stealth?

  • October 24, 2010
  • 16 replies
  • 27279 views

I cannot understand why Adobe is installing McAfee software by stealth, and infuriating users like myself?

I cannot understand the mindset in a supposedly clever organisation that could imagine that this is OK?

It is fundamentally both deceitful and patronising.

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    16 replies

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    M
    manuel_321
    Participant
    November 14, 2013

    That's disgusting. When I tried to update I didn't see any option to enable or disable mcafee installation this time. I didn't noticed until I saw how the download was progressing, with no button to cancel it, and get installed without asking for permission.

    DISGUSTING!

    L
    lololololadobe
    Participant
    November 14, 2013

    Just posting to acknowledge that I ALSO witnessed McAfee being stealth installed by the flash update this morning.

    It's ok though...I made sure to find all the top adobe torrents on all my different sites and I'm currently seedboxing them off a sick backbone.  Should have well over 100gigs uploaded by noon...maybe a lot more.  Every gig is a gig adobe doesn't get paid for.

    This is what you get for scumbag behavior adobe.

    Also GIMP is a lot easier to use...

    C
    CyberB-E-A-R
    Participant
    February 27, 2013

    This is the worst kind of violation. I checked a box for not having ask toolbar and then i got mcAffe. Adobe, what direction are you going? I´m starting to miss Macromedia, they would never have done this kind of thing... Only not seriuos companies does things like this. Tihis sofware did nothing else than drive me to their website for comersials to by their stuff. I used to be an addicted flash developer and now I´m seriously concidering to abandon the whole concept. "We had some good days"

    A
    Anonymous
    September 2, 2012

    Just adding my voice on this issue.

    The Flash Player downloader forced McAfee on me just recently. There may have been an option to disable its installation; if so, I guess I didn't notice it. Perhaps because its location is easy to ignore. It is deceptive and insulting to have it enabled by default, especially when it isn't related to the download, and when it messes with the system in a way that could easily cause stability issues (and some problems HAVE have been reported on this forum).

    I've used McAfee's uninstall feature and so far have had no problems. But I believe Adobe's attitude on this matter is insulting, patronising and irresponsible.

    I have nothing against Adobe. I use Adobe Audition regularly, although I think it's hugely overpriced considering how little it has improved since it was Cool Edit Pro. I also bought Premiere Elements, which I've found to be a bloated and buggy program with a nasty UI. Actually, perhaps I DO have something against Adobe! But those issues are nothing compared to this.

    G
    gypsyangell
    Participant
    March 5, 2012

    No, there was NO OPT OUT. Not only that, but when I cancelled the install because it was installing unauthorized software, it cancelled the Flash update but installed McAfee anyway.

    chris.campbell
    chris.campbell
    Legend
    March 6, 2012

    At the start of the install, there is a checkbox to disable the added install (see highlighted area in screenshot below.)

    I also tried canceling the install, by clicking on the X to close the install dialog and I was prompted if I wanted to cancel both installs.  When I clicked yes, both installs were canceled as expected.

    I understand the concern about the checkbox being checked by default and I'll continue to voice that to our management team.

    Chris

    S
    swordfishBob
    Participant
    March 8, 2013

    That screen print shows a checkbox for Google Toolbar.

    It says nothing about McAfee.

    The installer doesn't notice if another antivirus product is already installed.

    This is exactly the behaviour that computer security companies (like McAfee) should be WARNING EVERYONE TO AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE.

    Then again, it WAS Mr McAfee that first thought to change antivirus software to use "blacklists", so he could charge annual renewal fees.

    S
    screenName314
    Participant
    November 27, 2010

    I signed up with this forum only to post my agreement: including a McAfee install with the Acrobat Reader X install is just plain stupid.  I have anti-virus software running, it works fine, and I don't need any more.  If i want a product, I'll go get it.  I don't want someone dumping it on my machine.  I hope Uninstalling it really got rid of everything, including whatever the bloody thing put in my registry.  This leaves a bad taste in my mouth for both Adobe and McAfee.  Yuk.

    If there was an opt-out checkbox, I didn't see it.  The install took for bloody ever (announcing, for example, that Adobe 7 was running when it was not; apparently some component got stuck, who knows.  After much poking and jabing the install continued).  In my frustration, I may have missed a checkbox.  I don't care, the default sb "No".

      pwillener
      pwillener
      Legend
      November 27, 2010

      screenName314 wrote:

      including a McAfee install with the Acrobat Reader X install is just plain stupid.

      This is the Flash Player forum.

      But both Flash Player and Adobe Reader downloads are available without any bundled software, and both of these download pages are published multiple times every day in each of the forums.  I simply don't understand why anybody would download the stuff that is added with the download manager...?

      Flash Player downloads: http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/fp_distribution3.html

      Adobe Reader downloads: http://get.adobe.com/reader/enterprise/

      F
      FlashOptometrist
      Participant
      November 27, 2010

      '... I simply don't understand why anybody would download the stuff that is added with the download manager...?...'

      So you've never been in a hurry and clicked through the (mostly pointless) check boxes on downloads then.

      Congratulations, well done, clever boy.

      S
      shad0wfax
      Participant
      October 25, 2010

      Precisely. I hate this sneaking in stuff, leaving the default option as selected.

      C'mmon Adobe, be a little more mature here. You don't need the kickbacks from McAfee.

        D
        dlphotographic
        Participant
        October 25, 2010

        There is no option to be selected, I went to the update page, updated.

        There was no options available at all, simply the only thing there to do was to update Flash.

        After clicking allow it installs McAfee. Very pissed off.

        There was no option to stop the install, no option to not install it in the first place, and no nidication, warning or any mention at all of McAfee until after the installation of it.

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