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