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georgeblanda
georgeblanda
New Participant
September 11, 2018
Answered

"New Helper Tool"

  • September 11, 2018
  • 4 replies
  • 31237 views

Every time I am forced to update Flash Player I am asked by Adobe for my administrator username and password so Adobe can install "a new helper tool."

Not just because I have never been a fan of Adobe, with each update I become increasingly irritated by this demand. If I want to update my Flash player, I must provide this information or the installation will quit.

I have a few problems with this approach:

  1. don't give me some vague language about "a new helper tool,"
  2. give me the option of not adding the helper tool if I don't want it while still allowing the installation to continue, which brings me to the most important point:
  3. TELL ME SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE DARN "HELPER TOOL" IS.

How can I decide if I want this update enough to include some undescribed, nondisclosed "helper tool" if Adobe refuses to tell me what the "helper tool" is? Maybe I don't want the "helper tool" enough to warrant updating Flash player. Shouldn't that choice be mine? How can I make an educated decision if I don't know what it is?

This is typical Adobe. Every time I am forced to deal with an Adobe product something about it displeases me, a problem I've never had with any other software developer.

So, Adobe, what is this phantom "helper tool" and why do you refuse to say what it is when you insist people download it?

Thank you.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Dave Merchant

The Flash Player installer requires root, and the "helper tool" dialog is a consequence of asking the kernel for an escalation of privileges. The username and password being prompted for are for your local root account, and are being asked for by your computer. Adobe has nothing to do with it and never sees what you type in.

See https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Security/Conceptual/SecureCodingGuide/Articles/AccessControl.html

4 replies

T
Test Screen Name
Brainiac
February 13, 2019

If you didn't allow the helper tool to install, you stopped Flash installing or updating properly, so go round again.

    lexicon504
    lexicon504
    New Participant
    January 28, 2019

    You're not going to get any help from these people. Especially the "staff". If really Staff...wouldnt they KNOW what API is being called? Cant they FIND someone who knows and provide a real answer? This IS new to MacOS especially new MacOS users. I've been dealing with Adobe since the Photoshop 2 days so have a longer history than some of you have been alive. NEVER have I ever seen this bogus stuff even from Adobe. I launched the Flash Player installer...immediately prompted to install a "helper". If your mental giants that create the installer would just install Flash Player and CALL it that after I enter my PW without calling it something different, this crap wouldn't happen.

    D
    Dave MerchantCorrect answer
    Brainiac
    January 28, 2019

    The Flash Player installer requires root, and the "helper tool" dialog is a consequence of asking the kernel for an escalation of privileges. The username and password being prompted for are for your local root account, and are being asked for by your computer. Adobe has nothing to do with it and never sees what you type in.

    See https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Security/Conceptual/SecureCodingGuide/Articles/AccessControl.html

      jeromiec83223024
      Community Manager
      jeromiec83223024Community Manager
      Community Manager
      January 30, 2019

      Yep, exactly this.  Flash Player isn't like a typical desktop application that would get installed in the Applications folder.  We have to install the browser plug-in in shared system locations, and it makes sense to tighten access around those locations.

      I imagine that we need elevated privileges to install the plug-in in that system location, and to install and run our auto-update service.  These prompts are recent additions to MacOS, and I don't believe that we can avoid them.  Traditional desktop applications in 2018 would simply publish their applications through the app store and let it handle the update logic, so it makes sense that these mechanisms would get locked down as the number of legitimate uses for them dwindles.

      If you enable automatic updates after you install, you'll get the helper prompt once, and then the automatic update service will keep Flash updated, and you'll never get the prompt again.

      If you choose to manage Flash installations manually (which is what I imagine you're doing, since this is happening enough that you're annoyed about it) then you'll get the prompt from MacOS every time you run the installer.

      calebr44320196
      calebr44320196
      New Participant
      October 15, 2018

      please help, anyone!!!! I'm having a nervous breakdown!!!! What is this helper tool!! Been seeing it ever since I updated to MacOS 10.14 I have been seeing this

      _maria_
      Community Manager
      _maria_Community Manager
      Community Manager
      October 15, 2018

      The Helper Tool terminology is not new to macOS 10.14.  My reply to OP is still applicable.

      _maria_
      Community Manager
      _maria_Community Manager
      Community Manager
      September 11, 2018

      'Helper Tool' is terminology baked into the Apple API (Application Programming Interface) that is used by the installer.  There's nothing additional being installed.  Since it's baked in terminology, it can't be changed (we tried).

      dhnyny
      dhnyny
      New Participant
      January 12, 2019

      This sounds wrong. If the terminology is "baked in" why does it never show up with any applications that use the Installer other than Adobe applications?

      T
      Test Screen Name
      Brainiac
      January 12, 2019

      Perhaps because Flash *is* a helper tool for browsers...

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