Bundling Google Chrome and Toolbar???

Report · Aug 22, 2012

Has anyone noticed that the latest Flash update automatically installs Google Toolbar and Google Chrome? What a horrible business decision Adobe. Force installing software like you are Napster. I would fire the product manager that made that decision. As a CTO I will be informing my IT staff to set Flash to ignore updates from this point forward. QA staff cannot have additional items installed that are not part of the base browser installation. Ridiculous that Adobe snuck this crap in. All I can hope now is to find something that challenges Photoshop so I can move my design team away from Adobe software as well. Smart move trying to make pennies off of your high dollar customers.

Report · Aug 01, 2013

Add me to the list.

Yesterday I got a notification that Flash had an update. (Grey box thing) I clicked Next and BAM.. I was getting the stupid Google Toolbar and Chrome.

THERE WAS NO OPTION TO OPT OUT OF THE GOOGLE TOOLBAR AND CHROME!!!

I was not redirected to the Adobe website (where I've seen the opt out checkbox)... it was a "normal" update just like so many others... except this time, Adobe sent a payload that broke things on my computer.

I have to use IE for certain work related tasks/tools. I have to use Chrome or Firefox for others. Thsi update from Adobe broke Chrome. It broke it so bad that I can't yet get it working again despite wiping Chrome off my system, uninstalling the Google Toolbar THAT NO ONE EVER WANTS ANYWAY, cleaning up stuff in %AppData% and reinstalling Chrome.

Thanks for that (sarcasm in case you missed it). Where do I send the bill for my time spent trying to fix this mess?

Report · Dec 02, 2013

Hmmm, looks like the moderater had to do some cleanup over the weekend ;^)

Having offline installers for apps that update this often is not really helpful - furthermore, when these apps are set to update on their own, how are we supposed to beat Adobe's install prompt with our own management systems? Block the Adobe update sites? Iffy at best, evrything points to Adobe forcing the update with no control - now you even get prompted to allow the update to go silent from then forward - you can't resonably expect to train every user to avoid this.

Yes, there are opt outs - I guess the law at least makes Adobe do that but that doesn't make it user or IT friendly.

Adobe is certainly not the only one doing bundling but the thought that it's the only way they can make money is false. Flash developers do pay a licensing fee, giving away the client is a must in a public distribution environment in order to grow acceptance and usage on web servers - it's not a generous offering on Adobe's part.

You can't fault Adobe for doing what has become common (although still a pain) but to provide no better solution for managed networks is really a poor business decision that will eventually drive users to get by without Flash altogether. Plenty of end users are happy to live in Apple's world without Flash, keep this up and the rest of us will follow.

Report · Jan 27, 2014

And they are STILL doing it. Got a notice of Flash update. It took me to a download screen. No options for anything. Selected 'Run'. Update for flash, installation for POS Google Chrome and POS Google Toolbar all came up at the same time. As soon as I realized what was happening, I cancelled the installation. Idiotic things like this is why I no longer use Google for my search engine.

Report · Jan 31, 2014

Ok... so I was forced to use chrome because google is messing around with IE11 support for their stuff (youtube, etc).
BUT WHAT THE HELL IS THIS GARBAGE, ADOBE?!

Can't they provide a CLEAN update via my Adobe CC subscription or something?

Report · Jan 31, 2014

Flash Player for ActiveX (Internet Explorer)

Flash Player Plug-in (All other browsers)

Those are "clean updates".

They're posted hundreds of times all over these forums.

Bookmark them.

STOP using the updater UI.

I did years ago, because I don't allow "blind installs" on any machine I maintain.

Report · Feb 03, 2014

I discovered Adobe is right. There is a checkbox for these items. Unfortunately, they are located behind the popup box where you can't see them. Therefore, you don't know that they are there Poor design, needs to be corrected.

Report · Nov 27, 2013

Mr. Campbell,

I'm gratified someone at Adobe is welling to communicate on this issue. But really... a year of these threads hasn't explained the issue that there are no screen prints. It goes from

- ADOBE | DOWNLOAD

-> IE 9.0 prompt | RUN ->

-> installing Google Chrome

Which none of us want!

Vista IE 9.0 will prompt to install with a button | RUN.

Please remove CHROME from future updates.

ADOBE v10.1.8 INSTALLED

+ Chrome

Report · Nov 27, 2013

I guess I'm the latest to fall into the Google trap. I noticed that there is a lot of people unhappy that Adoble "forced" additional software onto their computers. I'm not a happy person either. There was no way to opt out of the download. I tried to cancel, but it wouldn't let me.

I intend to do some research on this page and with Adobe. If I cannot find a satisfactory solution, I'll do what I always do. I will file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and/or my state department of consumer affairs.

ADOBE. Please post AND EMAIL: HOW TO REMOVE UNWANTED GOOGLE PRODUCTS THAT WAS DOWNLOADED WITH ADOBE FLASH.

Report · Nov 29, 2013

You can do a simple uninstall of most of these unwanted programs through the usual methods that can be found very easily from any number of sites on the Net that provide such instructions, to include the makers of the unwanted programs themselves. And Microsoft.

I suspect (hope) you have already figured that out.

As for the primary problem of the opt-out instead of opt-in I think there is going to need to be political and legal pressure applied before any of these big companies will change their policies. It's a matter of money for them and they really don't care too much about us little folks, nothwithsatnding the automatic bla-bla-bla here we will read from some of the staff that they do care. Those staff members that respond here and write what they do about caring may actually care (who really knows?) but they probably have zero influence on such policies and are instructed what to write when we complain.

I'll give this company some credit for having a better style about them when they receive these complaints. They have a little more class than some other companies. And a little more smarts.

But we really need to do more than just going to the Better Business folks and other complaint places. Don't misunderstand, that needs doing, for sure. But it really will only be when enough of us "little" folks get together and come up with some better ways of putting pressure on the executive folks that make these decisions BUT NEVER SEE THESE THREADS! that we will get any results.

It has to be political and legal that does it. There's no other way to get this stopped. We can write and write and write here on this site until we are blue in the face or our fingers drop off, but without the legal and political pressure zip, zero, nothing will change.

I believe I have my settings on this board such that anyone can contact me. We have to band together and we REALLY need to think outside the box.

One more thing on the legal side -- you have to be able to prove you opted out, if you wish to make the claim that you did but something was installed anyway. Screenshots might be one way. I think in the early stages of this thread one of the employees seemed quite helpful in the area of confirming whether a person had opted out, but the details at this time escape me as I have been engaged in other activities and have not followed this at Adobe in a fair bit. But I think I remember I was getting some positive vibes from one employee here, but don't know if he is still around. Maybe if he is still working in this division/section he'll pop in.

But we absolutely have to band together if we want to cause change. That's the only way!

Report · Nov 29, 2013

Why didn't I get an Opt-Out option?

I just got fooled into installing the google tool bar. (I already had chrome installed.) I downloaded via an automatic update request that came on a compter reboot; and when I agreed to download, it came via Firefox download. I clicked on run on Firefox and was not even given the Opt-Out Screen.

Report · Aug 28, 2012

No update till an opt-in!!

Report · Aug 29, 2012

Really a violation of the trust we put into Adobe. The backlash will go viral as overworked IT staffs have to run around and undo this. There's a lesson here that Adobe needs to absorb. One would hope Adobe wouldn't be stupid enough to repeat this fiasco with AR Reader. This will fan the no-Flash flames and accelerate HTML5 adoption.

Report · Sep 11, 2012

Nor will I install an update until Adobe removes this unwarranted intrusion. Fortunately I saw the install progress dialog and killed it before it screwed my machine up. Just to confirm I didn't receive any opt out option ( I went back to check again). Opt out is NOT appropriate in any case. This should be opt-in only or not even offered. I choose the browser on my computer and it's defintely not Chrome.

Report · Sep 11, 2012

I encountered this same situation with the Win7 laptop in my lab. After accepting the Flash Player update, I noticed Chrome and the Toolbar had been installed. I figured I'd just missed the notice to decline, so I simply uninstalled them. No problem.

A few days later, my wife's Win7 desktop received the same notice that a flash player update was available. She asked me if she should install it. I told her to move over, that I would take care of this. I then watched very carefully during the update process, and nowhere was there a screen to opt out. The installation completed and, sure enough, Chrome and the Toolbar were there... and were quickly uninstalled, thank you very much.

Here's the kicker, now. I thought to myself that maybe the new version of Flash Player might have something going for it, despite the bundling fiasco, so I decided to put it on my WinVista machine. But instead of waiting for an update notice to roll in, I went to the Adobe Website, found the installer, and did the installation that way. Guess what... NO Chrome or Toolbar. Hooray! BUT... after updating Flash my IE8 browser refused to connect. It would accept the URL, but then would spend eternity 'waiting' for the site, with the little round thing spinning away continually. No "Internet Explorer is unable to.." notice at all, it would just never connect to any site typed in.

I might have eventually been able to troubleshoot the browser failure, but I simply went back to a restore point from a day or two before. That got the browser working. The latest, updated version of Flash Player still shows installed in my list of installed programs, and I think I would know by now if it didn't work, but something funny happened during that update that only a rollback fixed. Hope this helps the understanding of this problem.

Report · Nov 14, 2012

I have the same issue - Chrome starts installing when I only expected a Flash update. This is a terrible decision by Adobe. I manage the IT services of our small company and will now disable all automatic Adobe updates.

Report · Nov 14, 2012

Adding my name to the list of disgruntled Adobe customers who object to Adobe's "sneakware" -- requiring users to explicitly de-select the addition of Google Chrome when responding to what appears to be a simple "Update Adobe Flash" dialog.

Very poor business practice.

Huge abuse of trust. Shame on Adobe.

Simply altering the destination web form such that the Google Chrome option is de-selected by default -- thus requiring the user to explicitly select it if he or she would like to download and install Chome -- would fix the issue and demonstrate the Adobe values an ethical relationship with its customers.

Report · Nov 14, 2012

Monopolies aren’t really all that concerned what we think is ethical. I even contacted several supposed trade news journals during the initial outbreak that blew through and just installed the Google stuff without asking. They determined not enough damage had been done to make it newsworthy and that it’s a widespread industry practice. Why pick on Adobe (except that they muffed the initial execution) when Java updates have been tricking users into installing junkware for years. Unfortunately Flash and Java are still in widespread use – and there are no plug-n-play replacements at this time.

I share your outrage – but that’s what we get for expecting anything coming down the wire to be free (as a society, that is).

After all the HTML5 and Flash-bashing out there Adobe figured they’d better milk this cash cow for all it’s worth now.

MOOO

Report · Nov 15, 2012

It's unacceptable that an Adobe Flash “update” is installing extras beyond just the update, and without permission.

@#)(*%()@#*%)(@#% ADOBE!!!

I’m glad HTML5 has the promise of removing most, if not all, the need for Flash.

I cannot trust Adobe and I hope the user community rejects this hijacking of our computers.

Report · Apr 11, 2013

I just got sucked into this as well. Darn. Same story. Agreed to update Flash player and before I knew it, Google Chrome and Toolbar were installing. No opt out or opt in. No indication that it was being slipped in. Now I have Chrome shortcuts all over the place. I'm not even philosophically opposed to Google; I just don't want it rammed down my throat by an update from an Adobe Flash player. Not cool. After reading this post, I realize nothing is being done, but just wanted add my dissent.

Report · Apr 11, 2013

Well here we are eight months later, and this still hasn't been resolved.

As can be seen from the screenshot, there is no way to opt-out - and and others have noted, why should we have to opt out of it at all?

I managed to cancel the download before Chrome was installed, but couldn't stop my pc getting infected with Toolbar.

SORT THIS OUT!

Report · Apr 13, 2013

After wasting too much of my time reading here and on Google forums, I have decided to eliminate all Adobe products from my computer. Over the years, I have been a staunch supporter of this company, but after reading this forum, I now know that I can no longer trust them. I feel sorry for Chris, having to toe the party line for the company. He doesn't make these decisions, just has to spout nonsense in order to keep his paycheck secure. If I cannot find alternatives, I will do without. I have never liked Google, and am incensed that this is being forced upon me. I WILL NOT waste my time researching and scrutinizing with a microscope each and every time Adobe needs to update any of their products on my computer. Trust has been lost, and there's no going back. Damn shame that Adobe has come to this. As an editor, I have found their services invaluable. No longer, /sigh.

Report · Apr 16, 2013

It's just happened to me. Well, it would've done, but I saw what was happening, and clicked on the cancel button in the nick of time. This behaviour by Adobe has incensed me. There was no opt-out given. No matter how many times you Adobe people keep telling us we should have been given one, we weren't. No matter how many times you keep telling us that you can't reproduce it, it doesn't alter the fact that it's happened to us - many of us. There are screenshots to prove it!

Report · Apr 17, 2013

Ok add another annoyed voice to the growing chorus of people who can tell you your product is wrong, but you either have no clue, or chose to ignore us in favour of getting paid by google.

Firstly, can I share my desktop with you or send you a video or something else... how about go jump! This installed the update, until there is another update, how could I reproduce for you! I am not wasting my time on your crapware by uninstalling updates to re-set this up!

So what happened, as everyone else has said:

1) Turn on computer

2) Adobe tells me there is a flash update

3) Click on dialog that asks me to install it

4) Download starts, which includes Chrome

Notice there is no step in there anywhere that took me to a website that allowed me to opt out. I am very familiar with the website as I have used it in the past for other updates, however THIS TIME it did not take me to the web.

This is on a company computer within an IT development company, we know what the hell we are doing, and this plainly did not work!

Time to start spreading this more widely to the news sites, adobe invading our privacy by installing unsolicited software.

You can hide behind you FAQ and how it SHOULd work, I don't give a crap, it did not work!

Report · Apr 17, 2013

Agree 100% with the sentiment. I don't have an issue with opting in, but auto installing software non-related software puts you firmly in the "avoid" category of software.

In addition, this was the result:
Adobe Flash Player 11: "Cannot contact reliable source"

Google Toolbar: "Instalation Complete"
Google Chrome: "Already Installed"
In other words, the only thing I got was what I didn't want, and didn't even know I was getting?-sounds like Malware to me.

Are you looking to be the next AOL?

Report · Aug 09, 2013

Good article if you use a proxy or corporate filter - I haven't tested to see if these are still active links but recent posts still mention using them.

http://conveyor2.shockley.net/2012/10/blocking-update-extras

Update:

Added to our filter - no change. I would have to monitor to verify if the URL changed or something else was not doing what it was supposed to.

Good thought anyway.