Users should beware when downloading their Adobe Flash or Adobe Flash updates from social networking websites like MySpace, Facebook and Twitter. Apparently, hackers are using these and other such communities to spread parasites, due to the amount of users these sites attract all around the world. While it may appear that you are downloading Flash, it may actually be a malicious executable, which has the ability to port additional parasites to the system.
Here's what adobe.com wrote on the subject:
"First off, do not download Flash Player from a site other than adobe.com – you can find the link for downloading Flash Player here. This goes for any piece of software (Reader, Windows Media Player, QuickTime, etc.) – if you get a notice to update, it’s not a bad idea to go directly to the site of the software vendor and download the update directly from the source. If the download is from an unfamiliar URL or an IP address, you should be suspicious.
Second, all Adobe software for Windows is signed with a digital certificate that is validated by Windows when you install our software. The Publisher will always be ‘Adobe Systems, Incorporated’, and you can verify this when you double-click the installer, or by right-clicking on the installer, selecting ‘Properties’, and going to the ‘Digital Signatures’ tab."
The Flash player is one of the most popular pieces of software around, and it is something that doesn't raise suspicions, which is exactly why it's so dangerous. We advise users to follow Adobe's suggestions.
Here's what adobe.com wrote on the subject:
"First off, do not download Flash Player from a site other than adobe.com – you can find the link for downloading Flash Player here. This goes for any piece of software (Reader, Windows Media Player, QuickTime, etc.) – if you get a notice to update, it’s not a bad idea to go directly to the site of the software vendor and download the update directly from the source. If the download is from an unfamiliar URL or an IP address, you should be suspicious.
Second, all Adobe software for Windows is signed with a digital certificate that is validated by Windows when you install our software. The Publisher will always be ‘Adobe Systems, Incorporated’, and you can verify this when you double-click the installer, or by right-clicking on the installer, selecting ‘Properties’, and going to the ‘Digital Signatures’ tab."
The Flash player is one of the most popular pieces of software around, and it is something that doesn't raise suspicions, which is exactly why it's so dangerous. We advise users to follow Adobe's suggestions.
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