Preventing Malware from installing on your Mac.

Be aware that there are several Malware that attack the Mac OS X computer platform. This malware often masks itself as an Adobe Flash update, a PDF creation app or even an app that will clean your Mac.
When you surf to a web page with your browser (for me this happened when I was attempting to watch a sports video) a Flash update window pops up over the browser window saying there is a Flash update ready for your computer. The window looks like the typical adobe flash update window with the two option buttons 'Later' or 'Install'. If you click install it flips to the ready to install window instantly.
   • Suspicious activity alert #1 - The correct name of Flash is 'Adobe Flash Player'

   • Suspicious activity alert #2 - Correct Flash update behavior after you click install is to bring you to Adobe's Flash web page that will show the current version and have a big yellow 'install now' button. Clicking this button starts the download of the installer to your Mac which takes at minimum 10 to 30 seconds - a noticeable delay.

My suspicions were alerted because the download was too fast. I quit Safari to go forward with the install. All browsers have to be quit before installing flash player. I checked my finder window and there was no mounted image file in the finder.
   • Suspicious activity alert #3 - Standard Flash update downloads a file that can be seen in your downloads list 'AdobeFlashPlayer_28_ast_install.dmg' and this .dmg file shows in the finder window.

Adobe updates flash about once a month.
Once installed you will not see another notification for a month. If you see a update flash notice after installing flash hours or days after updating Flash it is most likely malware.

Think you have Malware attacking your computer give us a call we will clean it out.

STOP - At this point I stopped. I didn't click install and quit the suspicious adobe flash installer.
CHECK - I then proceeded to Adobe.com to check the version of my flash player. scroll to bottom of page to reveal download links. Click on Adobe Flash Player.
Verify - The Flash player window will show the current version - See Photo 1

If you have a Flash on your Mac then you can see the version by opening 'System Preferences' and clicking on Flash Preference slect the update link this will show you the current version on your Mac. See Photo 2

The results for me showed that I already had the current version installed.
This proved that the Suspicious activity was indeed not normal and most likely the flash malware. This malware, when installed, hooks to your system and feeds all your browsing data to some outside entity. Which in turn bogs down your internet speed not to mention may feed your personal data to some one who shouldn't have it.

Be suspicious of any Adobe Flash installer going forward apply this procedure.
STOP the install - quit it - You can relaunch it if it is a true installer because the file will have downloaded to your Downloads folder. See Photo 3
CHECK
TEST
If all is ok Quit your browsers and open the downloaded Flash Installer from your Downloads folder. Opening the installer involves double clicking on the .dmg file which then mounts the installer folder on your desktop. See Photo 4
Open the folder and double click on the installer file.
Proceed with the install.

Enjoy Malware free surfing and use of your Mac. MtM
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