How to remove software downloaded from thesafesoftwarevideoflash.best?

What is thesafesoftwarevideoflash[.]best?

Thesafesoftwarevideoflash[.]best is a website designed by scammers who attempt to trick visitors into installing some potentially unwanted application (PUA) like adware, browser hijacker (or other app of this kind) through a fake installer of Adobe Flash Player.

In some cases such installers are designed to infect systems with malicious software like ransomware, Trojan, or other malware. In one way or another, neither thesafesoftwarevideoflash[.]best or any other similar website can be trusted.

Quite often websites of this type get opened through deceptive ads, other untrustworthy pages or by some PUA that is already installed on user's browser and/or operating system.

Thesafesoftwarevideoflash[.]best is designed to trick its visitors into thinking that the version of installed Adobe Flash Player is out of date. This website encourages to install a new version that can be downloaded from it. At the time of the research thesafesoftwarevideoflash[.]best downloaded a file named "AdobeFlashPlyerInstaller.dmg".

This file does not install a new Adobe Flash Player version. It is very likely that it installs some browser hijacker or adware. However, it may be designed to install ransomware, Trojan or other malicious software as well. Either way, we strongly recommend not to execute (open) files that are available for download on websites like thesafesoftwarevideoflash[.]best.

Browser hijackers are apps that are designed to force people to visit, use some fake search engine and gather various information (typically, browsing-related data). It is possible that an app of this type could be designed to collect personal, sensitive information as well.

Adware-type apps often operate as information tracking tools too. Additionally, adware is a type of software that usually displays various intrusive ads. If clicked, those ads open untrustworthy websites, sometimes they cause downloads and/or installations of unwanted programs.

Ransomware is a type of software that encrypts data (makes it inaccessible) and is used by cyber criminals with a purpose to extract money from its victims. Typically, victims of ransomware attacks experience data and/or financial loss. Trojans are malicious programs that usually infect systems with other malware (they cause chain infections).

Threat Summary:

Name	thesafesoftwarevideoflash.best pop-up
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Mac malware, Mac virus
Fake Claim	This page claims that installed version of Adobe Flash Player is out of date.
Detection Names (AdobeFlashPlayerInstaller.dmg)	Avast (MacOS:Bundlore-ED [Adw]), BitDefender (Adware.MAC.Bundlore.DPS), Emsisoft (Adware.MAC.Bundlore.DPS (B)), Kaspersky (HEUR:Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Shlayer.a), Full List (VirusTotal)
Symptoms	Your Mac becomes slower than normal, you see unwanted pop-up ads, you are redirected to dubious websites.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake Flash Player installers, torrent file downloads.
Damage	Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites, loss of private information.
Malware Removal (Mac)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your Mac with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner for Mac To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

More examples of pages that are very similar to thesafesoftwarevideoflash[.]best are install-plug-s3[.]com, managervanilla[.]pw and startnewestmostprogram[.]icu. As a rule, these pages suggest that Adobe Flash Player is out of date and and encourage visitors to install a new version.

None of these websites have anything do to with the actual Adobe Flash Player, all of them are designed to trick people into installing unwanted, or even malicious software.

If a browser opens websites like thesafesoftwarevideoflash[.]best or other shady pages by itself, then it is very likely that it is being forced to open them by some PUA that is installed on it (and/or operating system).

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

There are ads on the Internet that, if clicked, execute scripts designed to cause download and/or installation of some unwanted application. However, more often than not PUAs get downloaded and/or installed together with other (usually free) software. It usually happens when developers distribute them by using a deceptive marketing method which is called "bundling".

It means that PUAs are being distributed by including them in download and/or installation setups of other programs. Typically, information about it is provided in their "Custom", "Advanced" and other settings.

However, people often download and install software without even checking those settings and that is how various PUAs get a permission to be downloaded and/or installed together with some other software.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Software (and files) should be downloaded through official, trustworthy websites and direct download links. Other sources, tools like third party downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks (for example, torrent clients, eMule), unofficial websites should not be trusted.

Also, unwanted downloads and installations can be prevented by checking settings like "Custom", "Advanced" of any download or installation setup and declining offers to download and/or install additionally included apps. Furthermore, it is not recommended to click intrusive advertisements as well.

They often cause redirects to potentially malicious websites or downloads, installations of unwanted applications. Typically, ads of this kind are being displayed on questionable websites, however, they might appear on legitimate sited as well.

And finally, we recommend to see if there are any unwanted, suspicious extensions, plug-ins, and/or add-ons installed on a browser and programs of this kind on a computer, and remove them as soon as possible. If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.

Text in the initial pop-up window:

Explore Opera
Adobe Flash player update
Download an updated new version of “Adobe Flash Player" .
Download

Software update
Your Adobe Flash Player is out of date
Downloading new updates...
Updating takes a few seconds and no restart is needed after installation.
Software update:
Update Download Flash...

Screenshot of a pop-up with instructions:

Text in this pop-up:

1

 

Go to the 'Downloads'
Open your downloads list by clicking on the top right corner 'arrow'.

 

2

 

Open the file
Locate and double-click the file starting with 'Flash Player'.

Appearance of thesafesoftwarevideoflash[.]best scam (GIF):

Screenshot of the fake Adobe Flash Player installer:

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▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner for Mac By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is thesafesoftwarevideoflash.best pop-up?
• How to identify a pop-up scam?
• How do pop-up scams work?
• How to remove fake pop-ups?
• How to prevent fake pop-ups?
• What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?

How to identify a pop-up scam?

Pop-up windows with various fake messages are a common type of lures cybercriminals use. They collect sensitive personal data, trick Internet users into calling fake tech support numbers, subscribe to useless online services, invest in shady cryptocurrency schemes, etc.

While in the majority of cases these pop-ups don't infect users' devices with malware, they can cause direct monetary loss or could result in identity theft.

Cybercriminals strive to create their rogue pop-up windows to look trustworthy, however, scams typically have the following characteristics:

• Spelling mistakes and non-professional images - Closely inspect the information displayed in a pop-up. Spelling mistakes and unprofessional images could be a sign of a scam.
• Sense of urgency - Countdown timer with a couple of minutes on it, asking you to enter your personal information or subscribe to some online service.
• Statements that you won something - If you haven't participated in a lottery, online competition, etc., and you see a pop-up window stating that you won.
• Computer or mobile device scan - A pop-up window that scans your device and informs of detected issues - is undoubtedly a scam; webpages cannot perform such actions.
• Exclusivity - Pop-up windows stating that only you are given secret access to a financial scheme that can quickly make you rich.

Example of a pop-up scam:

How do pop-up scams work?

Cybercriminals and deceptive marketers usually use various advertising networks, search engine poisoning techniques, and shady websites to generate traffic to their pop-ups. Users land on their online lures after clicking on fake download buttons, using a torrent website, or simply clicking on an Internet search engine result.

Based on users' location and device information, they are presented with a scam pop-up. Lures presented in such pop-ups range from get-rich-quick schemes to fake virus scans.

How to remove fake pop-ups?

In most cases, pop-up scams do not infect users' devices with malware. If you encountered a scam pop-up, simply closing it should be enough. In some cases scam, pop-ups may be hard to close; in such cases - close your Internet browser and restart it.

In extremely rare cases, you might need to reset your Internet browser. For this, use our instructions explaining how to reset Internet browser settings.

How to prevent fake pop-ups?

To prevent seeing pop-up scams, you should visit only reputable websites. Torrent, Crack, free online movie streaming, YouTube video download, and other websites of similar reputation commonly redirect Internet users to pop-up scams.

To minimize the risk of encountering pop-up scams, you should keep your Internet browsers up-to-date and use reputable anti-malware application. For this purpose, we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS.

What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?

This depends on the type of scam that you fell for. Most commonly, pop-up scams try to trick users into sending money, giving away personal information, or giving access to one's device.

• If you sent money to scammers: You should contact your financial institution and explain that you were scammed. If informed promptly, there's a chance to get your money back.
• If you gave away your personal information: You should change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication in all online services that you use. Visit Federal Trade Commission to report identity theft and get personalized recovery steps.
• If you let scammers connect to your device: You should scan your computer with reputable anti-malware (we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS) - cyber criminals could have planted trojans, keyloggers, and other malware, don't use your computer until removing possible threats.
• Help other Internet users: report Internet scams to Federal Trade Commission.

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