Trouble uninstalling True Key that Adobe installed without asking me.

[robyner]

Hi, Newest Acrobat installed 2 programs that I didn't ask for or want.  I got McAfee out.  (Already have Norton.)  I STARTED to take out True Key, but it asked me to close my browser.  I couldn't close it right away since I was uploading something.  When that finished, I could no longer find the uninstall window.  Later it popped up again, I went through the bit of closing the browser again, and then could not find the popup again.  Any ideas?

[try67]

Are you sure it came with an Adobe app? If so, you must have given it permission (it could have been a check-box that you didn't un-check...) to do so, but what you're describing sounds strange. Did you download the installer directly from the Adobe website?

[robyner]

I actually remember where I was before I got the Acrobat.  I was working on taxes and on the website of a major investment company (a big one - no fly by night scam), and wanted to get a particular brochure from them.  They said you needed Adobe Acrobat.  If you didn't have it, you could get it from here (link).  I had Acrobat, but some time ago Adobe said there was an update available, but I had never gotten it.  Being in the middle of taxes (ugh!), I decided this was the perfect time to get it, so I clicked the link.  I just duplicated all the above to see if I really remembered correctly, and yes I did.  The link took me to the same screen that I remember, with Adobe logo in the upper left hand corner.  I'm not taking this test further since no need to get the Acrobat again.

Since my memory has been tested that far, I'm confident it's just as accurate for what would happen next.  You get an exe file.  (Strangely, I can't find it in my computer at the moment.  I'm sure I didn't delete it, but I can't find it.)  Anyway, it brings up some legal gobbledygook, you accept that, and then it does the install.  However, it shows three programs - Adobe Acrobat itself, some McAfee scanning program, and Intel True Key, which is some program to avoid using passwords to go to websites.  You use touch screen instead, and I suppose it recognizes your finger print   I didn't want either of these programs, but there was no way to uncheck them.  There were no boxes with check marks to be unchecked.  You got all 3 - or nothing.

Just now, as I was writing this to you (in my text editor, where it would be saved if anything went wrong), I somehow got back the window to uninstall Intel True Key.  So I took advantage of it.  That meant aborting my upload of photos to a backup site because I had to close the browser.  Then the d--- thing told me I would also have to restart the whole computer.  This has been a real annoyance, but I think the True Key is gone now.  I am p---'d off that this all SEEMS to be coming from Adobe themselves, for not giving me any choice in the matter.  Unless I was duped by that investment website (hard to believe), or THEY were duped by someone purporting to be Adobe (equally hard to believe).  But all's well that ends well.  (At least, I think it's ended.  That is, I have the Acrobat, I don't have the McAfee, and I don't have the True Key.)  Sigh...

[try67 · Accepted solution]

Actually, since you mentioned it I did see that this "True Key" app is being bundled with the free Adobe Flash Player (I Don't Want True Key or anything else. Just Flash, please.), and there's even a screenshot of how it looks like, where you can clearly see that it's possible to opt-out of it.

However, even if you did agree to install it along with Reader there should be a way of uninstalling it, just like any other application.

At least we now know it did come from Adobe, and isn't some piece of malware...

[robyner]

I didn't see any option to opt out, but maybe I missed it.  I'd like to say that next time I'll look for it, but who knows when the next time will be?  By then, I might have forgotten all about it. And no, the True Key wasn't malware, and yes, there was a way to uninstall it.  It just was very cumbersome.  I am sick of these tech companies trying to shove down your throat all this stuff they think you'll love (or, in the case of Microsoft, that they know you're going to hate, but they don't care.)  For now, I won against Adobe.

Thanks for your help, and happy computing (if that's ever possible any more)

[johnp23495798]

I did not find any area in the install screen for Flash Player where I could decline either True Key or McAfee.  I consider this practice to be an invasion of privacy if not an act of installing spyware for whatever purpose.  I will NEVER allow these "bloatware-spyware" programs to remain on my computer and I hope you will "take the hint" and allow those who just want Flash Player to EASILY decline your spyware addons, not hidden in some small print corner where it can be easily overlooked.

I chatted with one of your tech people and he wanted to take over my computer for some unknown length of time, possibly installing still more spyware.  I just used Revo Uninstall and it's gone, with all the hundreds of parts that were sticking in every corner of my operating system!

Do you guys know anything about spyware and ransomware?   Have you been hearing the news? Today about Apple getting randomwared for thousands of iPhones?

Please wake up and help your clients rather than try to trick them!

Thanks.

[sjOKIE]

I don't see Adobe or Intel in _______ whatever in my  programs......w ill spend a day finding the correct answer at least for me; but the first few don't work for me.

[cwcsdc]

This happened to me as well.  Adobe installed McAfee and True Key without asking. 

I got rid of McAfee, but True Key doesn’t appear in Programs & Features.  I already have

RoboForm, an enterprise class password manager, and I don’t need or want True Key. 

To me, this rises to the level of malware.  I’ll see if my anti-malware people agree,

and if so, can they get rid of it?

[cwcsdc]

With a little help from my anti-malware folks, I found True Key

in Windows Programs & Features under the name, “Intel Security True Key.” 

However, I have to close all of my open browser pages, including this one. 

I’ll finish the uninstall after I complete this post.

I still don’t like the fact that Adobe installed this app without asking.

[try67]

It didn't. Maybe you didn't notice the check-box (see the screenshot in the thread linked to above), or you noticed it but didn't disable it, but you had the option to opt-out of this installation.

[Guest]

Some of us were/are not asked ahead of time, I'm running vanilla Firefox(no add-ons), about two weeks ago I reformatted my computer, hence me needing the software, and the screen I was shown for "Step 1" was this. (I went back after and rechecked) I apologize for the low resolution, I can provide a better sample if anyone doubts the authenticity, I just don't want to go through the extra work if it's not necessary for the issue to be fixed.

[ccg82024324]

This looks just like the screen I just had. No check boxes anywhere. Next screen showed all three programs showed being installed, but there was no abort/stop button either, so that I could not stop and go back and look for said hidden checkboxes.

Got the McAfee uninstalled, but Intel True Key anything is not showing up anywhere. Very annoyed, especially when I find others are having same issue and Adobe denies it.

[ccg82024324]

Actually just went thru it again. Next screen says to download file, then when run download the permission does not list any programs, it just runs. Why was there not a stop button?

[~graffiti]

I don't believe that Adobe is "denying" anything. I will agree that this is bad web practice (although not uncommon for companies like Adobe) and they should "opt in" on items like this.

[thinkhelp]

So disappointed in Adobe for hiding McAfee and TrueKey, with no option to refuse, with Adobe Reader.

[suzanh86999996]

I tried what you did since I'm using Windows 10. I too could not uninstall it. This is really infuriating how I have this on my computer without my permission. I want it off. But, I don't see how. ADOBE, please give the steps to uninstall this TRUE KEY program.

[suzanh86999996]

I am having the same problem. I've read through the conversation and tried everything. When I click on the icon to uninstall it takes me to my program install/uninstall. It is not listed there???!!! I do recall Adobe popping up a screen that says Adobe has downloaded True Key for my convenience. Well it is not my convenience. I am trying to work and don't like having an app like that on my system..

[josee77082829]

I dint see any check box, but I knew I was gonna get that extra junk and installed anyway, because I have supper uninstaller 7 I can clear all that register from my computer.

[New ID User]

Thank you! I found it just as you said.

[Guest]

To uninstall, you must first be able to find "Intel Security True Key" within you programs and features so you can uninstall it. First restart your computer. Once restarted run control panel again and go to programs and features, then sort by date. It should be the newest date. Delete "Intel Security True Key", then restart again.

[mitchp91547956]

For Windows10:    Right-click True Key icon on desktop. Select delete.In note explaining result(click Programs & features). In

                               Program &  features look up"Intel Security True Key. Click True Key. Click uninstall. New box seen from Intel.

                               Click uninstall. End of  story.....

[Guest]

Actually it isn't end of story, because even after you "uninstall" truekey there is still a true key file left behind on your computer and if you use task manager and go to processes you can see 2-3 true key objects running still.

[wyashvant]

Go to C:\Program Files\Intel Security\True Key and run the uninstall.exe file.

That's all folks!

[Guest]

Reread my post from the other day, thats after i ran thier uninstaller.

[thinkhelp]

Thanks, will give this a try. Adobe shouldn't force bloatware on us.