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Why are you bundling a commercial version of Mcafee with Adobe DC reader

New Here ,
Mar 28, 2018 Mar 28, 2018

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Sorry to be saying this, but I turned 70 this year and am unhappy with where applications like Adobe seem to be going.  I needed a new version for my Windows 10 system as Microsoft's Edge program fails to open some of my Adobe files.  Downloaded the 'Adobe dc reader' and it does its job.  But I was puzzled by the two applications that were bundled with it, apparently a scanner and a partially crippled McAfee virus scanner.  I did not ask for these or see anything about them in the download offer on the Adobe site.  To add insult to injury at boot the next morning the McAfee program installed a second on-line virus scanner on its own.  I have since uninstalled both, but would rather not have to go through this when I am attempting just to download the Adobe Reader.  I fear this behavior of infecting my computer with unsolicited software which McAfee then wants me to pay for and the resent Facebook abuse of user privacy fall into the general area of software vendors no longer respecting user rights.  Its sad  Adobe's free reader is a nice service, but I gather the world is changing to a more commercial nature and Adobe just couldn't resist infecting their download with McAfee products.

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correct answers 1 Correct answer

Community Expert , Mar 28, 2018 Mar 28, 2018

I don't work for Adobe or speak on their behalf, but I'll try to answer your questions:

- It's a common practice to bundle commercial applications with free software. It's one of the ways the company can offset the development costs of such applications.

- These applications are bundled by default with Reader, but there's a clear way of disabling it before downloading the installer, by ticking off the two check-boxes that appear on the download page's "Optional Offers" section, which I've highli

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Community Expert ,
Mar 28, 2018 Mar 28, 2018

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I don't work for Adobe or speak on their behalf, but I'll try to answer your questions:

- It's a common practice to bundle commercial applications with free software. It's one of the ways the company can offset the development costs of such applications.

- These applications are bundled by default with Reader, but there's a clear way of disabling it before downloading the installer, by ticking off the two check-boxes that appear on the download page's "Optional Offers" section, which I've highlighted in this screenshot I took of it just now:

 

 

- I agree that it would have been better to have these boxes ticked off by default and allow the user to "opt-in" to have them, instead of "opting-out".

- This has nothing to do the latest Facebook scandal, as it's not a user privacy issue in any way.

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New Here ,
Mar 28, 2018 Mar 28, 2018

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Interesting.  I got no such screen, but the applications were installed.

I obtained a Master's degree in Computer Science in 1986 and its not the sort of warning I would have ignored.  I was interested enough to uninstall the application, then download and run the installer again.

Behavior today was different, again no such screen as you posted, but neither did it install Mcafee either.  Something has changed in the last 24 hours.  Be nice if Adobe would be willing to address this.  I will continue to disagree with you about the nature of privacy and whether the meaning of customer service is changing for the worse.

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New Here ,
Oct 07, 2020 Oct 07, 2020

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Just installed Adobe Reader two days ago. This screen no longer comes up.

 

Adobe is the only software I download that still does this. Do they own Mcafee? No one I know needs another anti-virus these days. The ship has sailed. Adobe continuing to prompt installation, or worse stealth install, what is essentially crapware surprises me. 

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New Here ,
Jan 21, 2022 Jan 21, 2022

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Reference: https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-discussions/why-on-earth-is-mcafee-being-installed-when-i-att...

So, they claim it's optional... 

 

After trying to install the simple free version of acrobat reader, I found that Mcafee was also being installed, though given no option. I had to manually cancel the Mcafee installations by force closing the installer. Somehow, acrobat reader was able to install, while I was able to cancel the Mcafee installation.

 

For any of you that don't already know, Mcafee Antivirus is basically a virus itself. Think about it. Remember all those stupid Mcafee notifications you could never find a way to disable? Have you witnessed a noticeable difference in performance with vs. without?

Mcafee might not be a trojan horse or a worm, but would compare well with a common cold. 'Deadly' virus or not this program is terrible for the health/performance of your PC. They claim its optional, but is it really optional if they try to mislead you into thinking it isn't? Don't be a victim, force close your installer if you must!

unnamed.jpg

 

 

For a very inappropriate, yet informative video on how to uninstall Mcafee see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKgf5PaBzyg&t=156s

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Community Expert ,
Jan 24, 2022 Jan 24, 2022

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Each time I open the download page for Reader (https://get.adobe.com/reader/) these check-boxes appear, and they are always unselected by default. However, others have reported that they appear selected by default, or not at all.

I think the former is determined by your location. If you access it from the EU (like I do), where there are strict rules about opting-in to such offers, it seems the check-boxes are disabled. My guess is that's not the case if you access it from the US, and probably other places, too.

I have yet to see evidence of these boxes not appearing at all, so if you could provide it, that would be interesting. Please send a screenshot of the page from which you get the installer, not the installer itself (as it's too late at that point).

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Community Beginner ,
May 10, 2023 May 10, 2023

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I strongly agree with the argument that Adobe R behavior is intentionally designed based on where you are located. In West Africa, Adobe will at no time give any notification that they would bundle their app with McAfee. You only get to see McAfee downloading along with the Adobe R, altthough the informed-consent page makes no mention of McAfee. You will at no time have the option to abort the McAfee unless you abort the Adobe R installation. I took screen shots of the 8-step process. I could only use my mobile phone to snap step 4 (the consent page). Adobe was already denying me from taking a screenshot of the informed consent which makes no mention of McAfee.

 

Earlier today, I downloaded Adobe R because I had a few issues when using MS Edge to edit a PDF file. I downloaded the Adobe R and got both Adobe abnd McAfee installed unto my computer. Shortly after the download, my PC went slow. I thought it had to be related to the recent changes: McAfee and or Adobe. I tried uninstalling McAfee - I just couldn't - the uninstall option was grey shaded. I had to uninstall the Adobe and that allowed me the uninstall the McAfee.

 

Immediately after uninstalling them, my computer became as fast once again. That was when I thought to find out if the Adobe - McAfee effect was unique to me. Adode R installing in West Africa 1.pngAdode R installing in West Africa 2.pngAdode R installing in West Africa 3.pngAdode R installing in West Africa 5.pngAdode R installing in West Africa 6.pngAdode R installing in West Africa 7.pngAdode R installing in West Africa 8.pngAdode R installing in West Africa 4.jpgI love using Adobe but I can't risk installing it if i am not sure what's going on. It would be good to hear from Adobe.    

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Community Beginner ,
May 24, 2023 May 24, 2023

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So, exactly 2 weeks after the experience I had in West Africa, I just downloaded the Adobe app from London, and it didn't come bundled with McAfee. 

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Community Expert ,
May 24, 2023 May 24, 2023

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If you would have scrolled down a bit in the second screenshot you posted you would have seen those check-boxes, I bet. I can see the text "More add-ons" cut off just at the bottom of the window, but because you immediately clicked the download button you missed your chance of disabling them...

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Community Beginner ,
May 24, 2023 May 24, 2023

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I will be back in West Africa within the next 5 days. I will repeat the download and particularly look out for this. I will revert thereafter. 

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Community Expert ,
Jan 22, 2022 Jan 22, 2022

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MOVED TO THE ACROBAT READER FORUM

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