Why, why WHY *must* I install McAfee when updating Flashplayer?

SOLVED - at least for now.

I had the same problem with no checkbox to clear and no warning. It looks like different people at different times are getting different screens.

Anyway I did a system restore to get rid of the Mcafee, and then after a lengthy-ish search I found this page with a link to these standalone installers.

I selected the MSI Installer for Windows Plug-in based browsers, and that did the trick. I now have Flash support in Firefox, Chrome, and Opera with no Mcafee on my computer. Interestingly, I have to click a play button in Opera (at least for the site I checked), but that's no big deal. Flash in IE is not working so I suppose I'd need to download a different installer, but as I rarely use IE I don't really care.

Here are those links in the clear:

‌www.pretentiousname.com/flash_links

www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/distribution3.html

Hope this helps someone.

The credit goes to Leo at pretentiousname.com

Having read some of the "it never happens" replies, I'd like to report that I did indeed uncheck the McAfee box, and it installed it anyway.  I was about as happy about this as you were, and uninstalled it before it ran once.  I have had issues with McAfee in the past, and have no desire to have it on any computer I have to maintain, mine or others.

So WHO exactly are the people that make these poor decisions to pre-check check boxes ?

Maybe there should be legislation about bundled 3rd party software boxes being UNCHECKED aside from the stated software being requested.

So once again who exactly are the people that make these business decisions?

After all @ $78/share stock prices I hardly think adobe needs the extra income.

Nothing more than cooperate greed if you ask me.

I agree with all those here who are expressing their displeasure at the attempted bundling of McAffee with Flash. I consider myself quite computer literate but the placement of the check box in the centre of the screen hides it in plain sight -- due to our attention being drawn off to the right to the proceed to download button -- such that even I, and many less computer literate others, have missed the check box and as others have noted it is time consuming to uninstall. Since my family members and I many computers I find myself un-checking, or almost forgetting to un-check McAfee frequently. It is very upsetting.

I was hoping for a Greasemonkey script or better a Firefox add-on that would automatically uncheck that box (and perhaps bundled software boxes but this is the only one that is bothering me at the moment (except perhaps Java and Ask? Or have they stopped doing that).

In the meantime there is this
http://superuser.com/questions/692999/how-can-i-prevent-mcafee-security-scan-from-being-installed-bundled-with-other

which creates a write protected folder preventing the installation of McAfee.

I hope someone develops an Add-on.

The whole thing is bs anyways because I just did the latest install and I unchecked the box before download and it STILL installed McAfee.

So whether you leave it checked or uncheck the box, the download you get still installs McAfee either way because Adobe doesn't care, that's how they get their money.

Well, This seems like a popular thread. I too registered specifically to complain. I am surprised that this thread hasn't been deleted or locked.

I booted up my computer and was welcomed by an "Update Flashplayer" notification in my browser.

If I post this screenshot properly you can see what I noticed, that there was a user agreement for McAfee but no opt out what so ever. This was the first page that I saw and you will notice that it does indeed say "Step: 1 of 3".

Clicking on the link for the user agreement lets you see that you are agreeing to install McAfee. You can clearly see the link above in the screenshot (http s:// get3.adobe. com /flashplayer /update /plugin/ -without the spaces).

I searched for a flashplayer update and was taken to the page that looks like this one except that it gives you the ability to opt out and the "Total size" down at the bottom is smaller.

Here is the "Step: 1 of 3" page at the link that I searched for (http s:/ /get .adobe. com/ flashplayer/)

Before you wonder about the unchecked "YES" box, I did that out of habit.

So this should end the discussion on if there was an opt out or not.

Just made an account to say this happened to me and is completely unacceptable. are there alternatives to adobe flash? Is it even relevant or necessary for a typical browsing experience? If so I'm going to remove it completely. Also, this Mike M. fellow is a huge dick and his belligerent defense of adobe is pathetic. They are clearly in the wrong. You can't just install software that can cause major conflicts on someones computer without so much as asking permission. There's no defending such practices.  Not to mention he came on strong with his first few posts straight up telling users they were blind or stupid and must have missed some imaginary check box. Then telling a user "enjoy your ip ban".....wow. What an asshole.

This happened to me today as well, no prompts to opt out like I always do. And it just put Mcafee on my Computer without asking.

I saw both bars progressing so I knew immediately to go get it out.  But still this is underhanded.

The same thing just happened to me, and now I can't get rid of McAfee Security Scan Plus. So I feel the same frustration and anger that a reputable software like Reader of Flash Player should be burdened with teh McAfee scam. I'm also equally disgusted that it installed without my consent.

This thing is, I know I unchecked the option-to-install-it box. I am very careful about not installing anything from McAfee, because I've had to wipe hard drives before to get rid of their software completely.

It doesn't show up in Add/Remove programs, and it doesn't show up in IObit Uninstaller, but when I try to install Adobe Reader of Flash Player updates, there it is -- intrusive, unwanted, and slowing things down so badly I think I'm going to die of old age before the upgrade completes.

McAfee Security Scan Plus is a rotten program. McAfee wants to foist it off on people because nobody would buy it. It's nothing but malware.

I so wish there were a way to contact Adobe and ask them to stop letting McAfee tack its malware on to Adobe downloads!!

I have just completed my last ever Flash Player update.  I was made to install McAfee and, like the majority of people who have posted here, I already have an anti-virus I am perfectly happy with.  I have been forced to waste my time uninstalling McAfee and the irritation I felt has led me to waste more time by posting here.

Adobe have led me to the realisation that Flash really isn't necessary any more.  More and more sites are mobile-friendly which means removing Flash and replacing it with something more accessible.  Next time Flash tells me it is unsafe, I will just switch it off.  There may be some sites I won't be able to see but I doubt they will be sites I really need.

So goodbye Flash.  It was fun while it lasted but in the end you drove me away.