Fake Flash Player Update Scam: Remove The Alerts And Clean Your Device

The Update Flash Player page is a browser-based scam that displays fake error messages to trick you into installing potentially unwanted programs on your computer or phone.

Adobe ended Flash Player support on December 31, 2020 and blocked Flash content on January 12, 2021. There is no current browser Flash update to install. Close the page. If you downloaded a file, do not open it; if you already ran it, follow the removal steps for your device below.

Conceptual illustration of a fake browser update download stopped before reaching a computer

What is Update Flash Player?

The Update Flash Player fake error message is a scam that is shown to trick you into thinking that you need to install an update for Adobe Flash Player. It does this to scare you into downloading an update manager that will install adware and browser hijackers on your device. The Update Flash Player fake error messages will display this alert:

Update Flash Player. Please install the update manager to continue The version of ” Flash Player” on your system may not include the latest flash update and may be blocked. If you use the updated version of “Flash Player”, it might be needed to complete this action.

As you can imagine, this fake error message and anything it states is just a scam to try and scare you into downloading and installing potentially unwanted programs on your computer.

Why am I seeing the Update Flash Player pop-up ads?

You are seeing the Update Flash Player pop-up ads because your device is infected with malware, malicious push notifications, or a site you have visited has redirected your browser. Less than reputable sites can display malicious ads that redirect your browser to sites that display the Update Flash Player fake alerts to generate advertising revenue. If this happens, you can close the page and install an ad blocker like AdGuard [recommended] to block the malicious ads. However, if you are continuously seeing pop-ups like Update Flash Player pop-up ads, then your computer might be infected with a malicious program and you need to scan your device for adware and remove it. Here are a few typical signs that you have a malicious program installed on your computer:

Advertisements appear in places they shouldn’t be.
Your web browser’s homepage has mysteriously changed without your permission.
Web pages that you typically visit are not displaying properly.
Website links redirect to sites different from what you expected.
Browser popups appear which recommend fake updates or other software.
Other unwanted programs might get installed without your knowledge.

For the most part, if you see a browser-based scam, then you can simply close the browser and start it again. On the other hand, if you are continuously seeing scams like the Update Flash Player scam, then you should scan your computer for adware and remove anything that is found.

Remove “Update Flash Player” scam (Virus Removal Guide)

This malware removal guide may appear overwhelming due to the number of steps and numerous programs that are being used. We have only written it this way to provide clear, detailed, and easy-to-understand instructions that anyone can use to remove malware for free. Please perform all the steps in the correct order. If you have any questions or doubts at any point, stop and ask for our assistance. The “Update Flash Player” browser redirect can happen on Windows, Mac, or Android, so we’ve covered below all these operating systems. Depending on which operating system is installed on the device you’re seeing the “Update Flash Player” scam, follow the removal guide.

Remove “Update Flash Player” from Windows
Remove “Update Flash Player” from Mac
Remove “Update Flash Player” from Android

Remove Update Flash Player scam from Windows

To remove “Update Flash Player” scam from Windows, follow these steps:

STEP 1: Use Malwarebytes to remove “Update Flash Player” scam
STEP 2: Use HitmanPro to scan your computer for “Update Flash Player” and other malware
STEP 3: Use AdwCleaner to remove malicious browser policies
STEP 4: Remove malicious browser extensions

STEP 1: Use Malwarebytes to remove “Update Flash Player” scam

In this first step, we will install Malwarebytes to scan and remove the “Update Flash Player” malicious files and registry key from your computer. Malwarebytes is one of the most popular and most used anti-malware software for Windows, and for good reasons. It is able to destroy many types of malware that other software tends to miss, without costing you absolutely nothing. When it comes to cleaning up an infected device, Malwarebytes has always been free and we recommend it as an essential tool in the fight against malware.

Download Malwarebytes for Windows.
You can download Malwarebytes by clicking the link below.
Malwarebytes Free for WindowsScans and removes malware at no cost
Download MalwarebytesOfficial installer for Windows 11 and 10. Your download starts right away.Want real-time protection? See Malwarebytes Premium
Double-click on the Malwarebytes setup file.
When Malwarebytes has finished downloading, double-click on the MBSetup file to install Malwarebytes on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder. You may be presented with an User Account Control pop-up asking if you want to allow Malwarebytes to make changes to your device. If this happens, you should click “Yes” to continue with the Malwarebytes installation.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install Malwarebytes.
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes setup wizard which will guide you through the installation process. The Malwarebytes installer will first ask you on what type of computer are you installing this program, click either Personal Computer or Work Computer. On the next screen, click “Install” to install Malwarebytes on your computer. When your Malwarebytes installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click the “Get started” button.
Continue with manual scanning.
After installing Malwarebytes, you’ll be prompted to select between the Free and the Premium version. The Malwarebytes Premium edition includes preventative tools like real-time scanning and ransomware protection; however, we will use the Free version to clean up the computer. Click on “Skip“.
Click on “Scan”.
To scan your computer with Malwarebytes, click on the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes will automatically update the antivirus database and start scanning your computer for Update Flash Player scam and other malicious programs.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will scan your computer for malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Quarantine”.
When the scan has completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes has detected. To remove the malicious programs that Malwarebytes has found, click on the “Quarantine” button.
Restart computer.
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files and registry keys that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your computer. When the malware removal process is complete, you can close Malwarebytes and continue with the rest of the instructions.

STEP 2: Use HitmanPro to scan your computer for “Update Flash Player” and other malware

In this next step, we will scan the computer with HitmanPro to ensure that no other malicious programs are installed on your device. HitmanPro is a second-opinion scanner that checks suspicious files and common malware locations. It uses cloud analysis from several security labs, including SophosLabs, so it needs an internet connection for those checks. Keep the report if anything is detected; another scanner can add evidence, but no result proves that every possible threat has been removed. You can scan with HitmanPro for free. Removing detected threats requires an eligible one-time 30-day trial or a paid license. A computer that has already used the trial may not qualify again. Check the current purchase price in the official application rather than relying on an old price quoted in a guide.

Download HitmanPro.
You can download HitmanPro by clicking the link below.
HitmanProSecond-opinion malware scanner from Sophos
Download HitmanProFree scan. Removing threats needs the free 30-day trial. Your download starts right away.
Install HitmanPro.
When HitmanPro has finished downloading, double-click on “hitmanpro.exe” (for 32-bit versions of Windows) or “hitmanpro_x64.exe” (for 64-bit versions of Windows) to install this program on your PC. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder. You may be presented with an User Account Control pop-up asking if you want to allow HitmanPro to make changes to your device. If this happens, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.
Follow the on-screen prompts.
When HitmanPro starts you will be presented with the start screen as shown below. Click on the “Next” button to perform a system scan.
Wait for the HitmanPro scan to complete.
HitmanPro will now begin to scan your computer for malware.
Click on “Next”.
When HitmanPro has finished the scan, it will display a list of all the malware that the program has found. Click on the “Next” button to remove Update Flash Player adware and other malicious programs.
Click on “Activate free license”.
If available, click Activate free license and follow the activation prompts. If the trial was already used on this PC, use an existing license or save the report and ask for help. Review each selected detection before proceeding with removal.

STEP 3: Use AdwCleaner to remove malicious browser policies

In this third step, we will use AdwCleaner to remove the malicious browser policies that were set by scams on your computer and delete malicious browser extensions. AdwCleaner is a free popular on-demand scanner that can detect and remove malware that even the most well-known anti-virus and anti-malware applications fail to find. This on-demand scanner includes a lot of tools that can be used to fix the side effects of scams.

Download AdwCleaner.
You can download AdwCleaner by clicking the link below.
Malwarebytes AdwCleanerRemoves adware and unwanted programs at no cost
Download AdwCleanerOfficial download. Your download starts right away.
Double-click on the setup file.
Double-click on the file named “adwcleaner_x.x.x.exe” to start AdwCleaner. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder. You may be presented with a User Account Control dialog asking you if you want to run this file. If this happens, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.
Check whether a Chrome policy reset is needed.
Leave policy resets off for an ordinary scan. On your own PC, enable Settings → Reset Chrome policies only after confirming an unwanted policy. Do not reset work or school policies; contact the administrator instead.
Click on “Scan Now”.
On the left side of the window, click on “Dashboard” and then click “Scan Now” to perform a system scan.
Wait for the AdwCleaner scan to complete.
AdwCleaner will now scan your computer for the malware. This process can take a few minutes.
Review the results, then click “Next” and “Quarantine”.
Review the detected items and click Next. If AdwCleaner lists preinstalled software separately, leave anything you intentionally use unselected, then click Quarantine to remove the selected items.
Restart if requested, then finish the cleanup.
Restart when AdwCleaner asks. When its final screen appears, choose Skip Basic Repair. Use Run Basic Repair only when a support agent has asked you to run it for a specific problem. When the malware removal process is complete, you can close AdwCleaner and continue with the rest of the next step from this guide.

STEP 4: Remove malicious browser extension

In this final step, we will remove any malicious extensions from your browser and change to default any settings that might have been changed by malware.

ChromeFirefoxMicrosoft EdgeInternet Explorer

Remove “Update Flash Player” scam from Google Chrome

To remove “Update Flash Player” from Google Chrome, we will remove the browser extension and then check the settings.

Remove malicious browser extension.
In the top right corner, click on Chrome’s main menu button, represented by three vertical dots. When the drop-down menu appears, click on “More tools“, then click on “Extensions“. The “Extensions” screen will be displayed with a list of all the extensions installed on Chrome. Scroll through the list and search for unknown browser extensions, and then click on “Remove” to remove them.
Change the search engine to Google.
In the top right corner, click on Chrome’s main menu button, represented by three vertical dots. When the drop-down menu appears, click on “Settings“. On the left side of the window, click on “Search engine“, then click “Manage search engines…“. In the opened list, find Google Search, click the three vertical dots and select “Make default“.
Check the homepage and new tab settings.
In the top right corner, click on Chrome’s main menu button, represented by three vertical dots. When the drop-down menu appears, click on “Settings“. In the “On startup” section, disable any unknown extension, then select “Open the New Tab page” as your preferred setting.

If your browser is still being redirected to “Update Flash Player” or any other unwanted site after you’ve performed the above steps, we strongly recommend resetting Google Chrome to its default settings. To do this, type “chrome://settings/resetProfileSettings” in your browser URL bar, then click on “Reset settings“.

Remove “Update Flash Player” scam from Firefox

To remove the “Update Flash Player” redirect from Firefox we will reset the browser settings to its default. The reset feature fixes many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information like bookmarks, passwords, web form auto-fill information, browsing history, and open tabs.

Click the menu icon, then click on “Help”.
Click on Firefox’s main menu button, represented by three horizontal lines. When the drop-down menu appears, select the option labeled “Help“.
Click “More troubleshooting information”.
From the Help menu, click on “More troubleshooting information“.
Click on “Refresh Firefox”
Click the “Refresh Firefox” button in the upper-right corner of the “More troubleshooting information” page.
Confirm.
To continue, click on the “Refresh Firefox” button in the new confirmation window that opens.
Click “Finish”.
Firefox will close itself and will revert to its default settings. When it’s done, a window will list the information that was imported. Click on “Finish“. Your old Firefox profile will be placed on your desktop in a folder named “Old Firefox Data“. If the reset didn’t fix your problem you can restore some of the information not saved by copying files to the new profile that was created. If you don’t need this folder any longer, you should delete it as it contains sensitive information.

Remove “Update Flash Player” scam from Microsoft Edge

To remove the “Update Flash Player” redirect from Microsoft Edge we will reset the browser settings to its default. This will reset your startup page, new tab page, search engine, and pinned tabs. It will also disable all extensions and clear temporary data like cookies. Your favorites, history and saved passwords will not be cleared.

Open the “Settings” menu.
In the top right corner, click on Microsoft Edge’s main menu button, represented by three horizontal dots. When the drop-down menu appears, click on “Settings“.”.
Click on “Reset Settings”.
On the left side of the window, click on “Reset Settings”.
Click on “Restore settings to their default values”.
In the main window, click on “Restore settings to their default values”.
Click “Reset”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue on with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, click on the “Reset” button.

Remove “Update Flash Player” scam from Internet Explorer

To remove the “Update Flash Player” redirect from Internet Explorer we will reset the browser settings to its default. You can reset Internet Explorer settings to return them to the state they were in when Internet Explorer was first installed on your computer.

Go to “Internet Options”.
Open Internet Explorer, click on the gear icon in the upper right part of your browser, then select “Internet Options“.
Select the “Advanced” tab, then click “Reset”
In the “Internet Options” dialog box, select the “Advanced” tab, then click on the “Reset” button.
Click on “Reset”.
In the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” section, select the “Delete personal settings” checkbox, then click on the “Reset” button.
Click on “Close”.
When Internet Explorer has completed its task, click on the “Close” button in the confirmation dialogue box. Close your browser and then you can open Internet Explorer again.

Your computer should now be free of the “Update Flash Player” scam. If your current antivirus allowed this malicious program on your computer, you may want to consider purchasing Malwarebytes Premium to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:

Run a computer scan with ESET Online Scanner
Ask for help in our Windows Malware Removal Help & Support forum.

Remove Update Flash Player from Mac

To remove “Update Flash Player” scam from Mac, follow these steps:

STEP 1: Remove malicious Profiles from your Mac
STEP 2: Remove the malicious programs from Mac
STEP 3: Use Malwarebytes for Mac to remove “Update Flash Player” scam
STEP 4: Remove “Update Flash Player” redirect from Safari, Chrome, or Firefox

STEP 1: Remove malicious Profiles from your Mac

Profiles are used by IT admins in businesses to control the behavior of their Macs. These profiles can configure a Mac to do many different things, some of which are not otherwise possible. When it comes to home users, adware and scams are using the configuration profile to prevent users from removing malicious programs from the computer. This also prevents the user from changing that behavior in the browser’s settings. In this first step, we will check your computer to see if any configuration profiles are installed. To do this, follow the below steps:

Open “System Settings”
From the Apple menu, select System Settings.
Open General, then Device Management
In System Settings, choose General → Device Management. Select an unwanted profile and use the remove control only after checking what it manages. If it belongs to work or school, contact the administrator.
If Device Management has no profiles, continue to the next step. That rules out a configuration profile as the cause of a locked setting, not other unwanted software.
Remove the malicious profiles
If there’s a Profile icon, click on it and select any suspicious profile that you want to remove, and then press the – (minus) button. Click Remove to remove the profile.

STEP 2: Remove the malicious programs from Mac

In this second step, we will try to identify and remove any malicious apps and files that might be installed on your computer. Sometimes redirects or adware programs can have usable Uninstall entries that can be used to remove these programs.

Quit the malicious programs
On the Apple menu bar, in the top-right corner, if you see any unknown or suspicious icon, click on it and then select Quit.
Open “Finder”
Click the Finder application on your dock.
Click on “Applications”
In the Finder left pane, click on “Applications“.
Find and remove the malicious app.
The “Applications” screen will be displayed with a list of all the apps installed on your device. Scroll through the list until you find the malicious app, right-click it, and then click “Move to Trash”.
Look out for any suspicious program that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program. Here are some known malicious programs: SearchMine, TakeFresh, TopResults, FeedBack, ApplicationEvents, GeneralOpen, PowerLog, MessengerNow, ImagePrime, GeneralNetSearch, Reading Cursors, GlobalTechSearch, PDFOnline-express, See Scenic Elf, MatchKnowledge, Easy Speedtest, or WebDiscover.
Click “Empty Trash”
On the dock, right-click on the trash icon and select “Empty Trash”. Doing so deletes the Trash’s contents, including the program that you just sent to the Trash.
Find and remove the malicious files
- Click the desktop to make sure you’re in the Finder, choose “Go” then click on “Go to Folder“.
- Type or copy/paste each of the below paths into the window that opens, then click Go.
  - /Library/LaunchAgents
  - ~/Library/LaunchAgents
  - /Library/Application Support
  - /Library/LaunchDaemons
- Look out for any suspicious files that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program. Names alone are not proof of malware. Remove only files tied to a detection or the unwanted app. Examples previously seen during investigations include: Names alone are not proof of malware. Remove only files tied to a detection or the unwanted app. Examples previously seen during investigations include: “com.adobe.fpsaud.plist” (an old Adobe updater file, not proof of malware by itself) “installmac.AppRemoval.plist”, “myppes.download.plist”, “mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist”, or “com.myppes.net-preferences.plist”. When you find a malicious file move it to the Trash.

STEP 3: Use Malwarebytes for Mac to remove “Update Flash Player” scam

In this third step, we will scan the computer with Malwarebytes for Mac to find and remove any malicious programs that might be installed on your Mac. Malwarebytes for Mac is an on-demand scanner that is able to destroy many types of malware that other software tends to miss without costing you absolutely nothing. When it comes to cleaning up an infected device, Malwarebytes has always been free, and we recommend it as an essential tool in the fight against malware.

Download Malwarebytes for Mac.
You can download Malwarebytes for Mac by clicking the link below.
Malwarebytes Free for MacScans and removes malware at no cost
Download MalwarebytesOfficial installer for macOS. Your download starts right away.Want real-time protection? See Malwarebytes Premium
Double-click on the Malwarebytes setup file.
When Malwarebytes has finished downloading, double-click on the setup file to install Malwarebytes on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install Malwarebytes.
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes for Mac Installer which will guide you through the installation process. Click “Continue“, then keep following the prompts in order to continue with the installation process. When your Malwarebytes installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click the “Get started” button.
Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”.
The Malwarebytes Welcome screen will first ask you on what type of computer are you installing this program, click either Personal Computer or Work Computer.
Continue with manual scanning.
You’ll be then prompted to select between the Malwarebytes Free and the Premium version. The Malwarebytes Premium edition includes preventative tools like real-time scanning and ransomware protection, however, we will use the Free version to clean up the computer. Click on “Skip“.
Click on “Scan”.

If requested, open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access, turn on Malwarebytes, authenticate, and return to the app.
To scan your computer with Malwarebytes, click on the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes for Mac will automatically update the antivirus database and start scanning your computer for “Update Flash Player” malware.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will scan your computer for the “Update Flash Player” scam and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Quarantine”.
When the scan has completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes has detected. To remove the Update Flash Player malware that Malwarebytes has found, click on the “Quarantine” button.
Restart computer.
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your computer. When the malware removal process is complete, you can close Malwarebytes and continue with the rest of the instructions.

STEP 4: Remove “Update Flash Player” from Safari, Chrome, or Firefox

If you are still having problems with the “Update Flash Player” adware browser extension, then you should also reset your browsers back to their default configuration For each browser that you have installed on your computer, please click on the tab below and follow the displayed steps to reset that browser.

SafariChromeFirefox

Remove “Update Flash Player” scam from Safari

To remove “Update Flash Player” scam from Safari we will check if there are any malicious extensions installed on your browser and what settings have been changed by this malicious program.

Go to Safari’s “Settings”.
On the menu bar, click the “Safari” menu and select “Settings”.
Check Homepage.
This will open a new window with your Safari preferences, opened to the “General” tab. Some scams may change your default homepage, so in the Homepage field make sure it’s a web page you want to use as your start-up page.
Click “Extensions”
Next, click on the “Extensions” tab.
Find and uninstall malicious browser extensions.
The “Extensions” screen will be displayed with a list of all the extensions installed on Safari. Scroll through the list until you find any unknown or suspicious extension, and then click on “Uninstall” to remove it. Look out for any suspicious browser extension that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine extension. By default, there are no extensions installed on Safari so it’s safe to remove any extension.
Remove spam push notifications.
Click Settings, click Websites, then click Notifications. Deselect “Allow websites to ask for permission to send push notifications”.

If the above steps didn’t help you remove the “Update Flash Player” scam from Safari, you can follow the below steps:

Workaround for greyed out Safari’s homepage
In some cases, after being changed by scams or malware, Safari’s home page can become stuck (greyed out). You will be able to edit the Homepage field in Safari’s preferences, but the change will not stick. This appears to be a bug, and there is an odd workaround. Try this:
1. In Safari, choose Settings from the Safari menu.
2. In the window that opens, click the General icon (if necessary)
3. Enter your desired home page in the “Homepage” field, but DO NOT press return!
4. At the top of the window, click any of the other icons (eg, Tabs, AutoFill, etc).
5. You may see a prompt asking for confirmation for changing the home page. If so, confirm.
6. Switch back to the General page and check to make sure the home page has been changed.
Delete Safari’s preferences file to remove malicious changes
Some malicious programs are known to install managed preferences to set the homepage and search engine settings in Safari. If the above options didn’t help you remove the malicious redirects, we’ll need to delete the Safari’s preferences. To do this, follow the below steps:
1. Quit Safari
2. Click the desktop to make sure you’re in the Finder, choose “Go” then click on “Go to Folder“.
3. Type or copy/paste the following path into the window that opens, then click Go: ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Safari.plist
4. If the file is present, do not delete it as a routine fix. Use Safari → Settings → Extensions and Privacy → Manage Website Data to remove the unwanted extension or affected site data, then reopen Safari

Remove “Update Flash Player” scam from Chrome for Mac

To remove “Update Flash Player” scam from Chrome for Mac we will reset the browser settings to its default. Resetting your browser settings will reset the unwanted changes caused by installing other programs. However, your saved bookmarks and passwords will not be cleared or changed.

Click on the three dots at the top right and click “Settings”.
Click on Chrome’s main menu button, represented by three dots at the top right corner. Now click on the menu option labeled Settings as shown by the arrow in the picture below, which will open the basic settings screen.
Open “Reset settings”.
In Chrome’s settings sidebar, click Reset settings. You can also type chrome://settings/reset directly in the address bar.
Choose “Restore settings to their original defaults”.
Click Restore settings to their original defaults, review what will change, and click Reset settings. Your bookmarks, saved passwords, and browsing history remain available.
Confirm by clicking “Reset”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue on with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, click on the “Reset Settings” button.

If the above steps didn’t help you remove the “Update Flash Player” scam from Chrome, you can follow the below steps:

Remove the unwanted policies created by malware from Chrome
In many cases, changes to Chrome may not be fixed with a simple browser reset. In such a case, it’s very possible that a malicious program has created unwanted policies on your browser. You can check if any unwanted policies are loaded into the browser by typing chrome://policy into the URL bar. To reset these policies, follow these steps:
1. Open a new Terminal window. To do this, go to Finder > Go > Utilities > Terminal
2. Enter the following commands, pressing enter after each line:
  - defaults write com.google.Chrome HomepageIsNewTabPage -bool false
  - defaults write com.google.Chrome NewTabPageLocation -string “https://www.google.com/”
  - defaults write com.google.Chrome HomepageLocation -string “https://www.google.com/”
  - defaults delete com.google.Chrome DefaultSearchProviderSearchURL
  - defaults delete com.google.Chrome DefaultSearchProviderNewTabURL
  - defaults delete com.google.Chrome DefaultSearchProviderName
  - defaults delete com.google.Chrome ExtensionInstallSources
3. After running these commands, quit Chrome if you haven’t already done so, then launch it again and check chrome://policy to see if the same keys are still present (you may need to click the “Reload policies” button for changes to show up). If they’re gone, you should be able to change your search engine and home page back to your preferred defaults in Chrome’s settings.
Remove the “Managed by your organization” policy from Chrome
Some malicious programs are known to install managed preferences to set the home page and search engine settings in Chrome. To check for these, do the following:
1. Quit Chrome
2. Click the desktop to make sure you’re in the Finder, choose “Go” then click on “Go to Folder“.
3. Type or copy/paste the following path into the window that opens, then click Go: /Library/Managed Preferences/
4. Paste the below path into the window that opens, then click Go: Look for the following files, where [username] is your username:
  - com.google.Chrome.plist
  - [username]/com.google.Chrome.plist
  - [username]/complete.plist
  These may be legitimate, so open these files with TextEdit and see if they have links to the troublesome site in them. If they do, delete them and restart Chrome.
Uninstall Google Chrome from your computer

Only if Chrome still cannot be repaired: back up your bookmarks and needed profile data first. Remove the Chrome application through Finder, then reinstall it from Google. The Google folders listed below may also contain data for other apps; do not delete them as a group. A reinstall does not remove legitimate organization policies or guarantee malware removal.
If Chrome still cannot be repaired, quit it, open Finder → Applications, and remove Google Chrome.app after backing up needed browser data. Reinstall from Google’s official website. Do not follow old instructions to erase every Google application folder. The paths below are reference locations from older Chrome troubleshooting, not a deletion list. Keep the shared Google folders: they can hold data for other applications. If a clean-profile test is needed, back up the affected Chrome profile and get help identifying that specific profile before moving anything.
- /Applications/Google Chrome.app
- /Library/Application Support/Google/
- /Library/Google/
- ~/Library/Application Support/Google/
- ~/Library/Google/
- ~/Library/Preferences/com.google.Chrome.plist
Note: The “~” indicates that it’s the current user’s Library which is often invisible in recent versions of macOS. To get to it you must hold down the Option (sometimes labeled Alt) key down and select Library from the Finder’s Go menu. After deleting all of the above files, restart your device. You can now download and re-install Google Chrome on your device. You will need to import any exported bookmarks or other data, and may need to reinstall any other Google apps that you use.

Remove “Update Flash Player” scam from Firefox for Mac

To remove “Update Flash Player” scam from Firefox for Mac we will reset the browser settings to its default. The reset feature fixes many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information like bookmarks, passwords, web form auto-fill information, browsing history, and open tabs.

Go to the “Help” menu.
Click on Firefox’s main menu button, represented by three horizontal lines. When the drop-down menu appears, select the option labeled “Help“.
Click “More troubleshooting information”.
From the Help menu, click on “More troubleshooting information“.
If you’re unable to access the “Help” menu, type about:support in your address bar to bring up the Troubleshooting information page.
Click on “Refresh Firefox”
Click the “Refresh Firefox” button in the upper-right corner of the “More troubleshooting information” page.
Confirm.
To continue, click on the “Refresh Firefox” button in the new confirmation window that opens.
Click on “Finish”.
Firefox will close itself and will revert to its default settings. When it’s done, a window will list the information that was imported. Click on the “Finish“.

Your old Firefox profile will be placed on your desktop in a folder named “Old Firefox Data“. If the reset didn’t fix your problem you can restore some of the information not saved by copying files to the new profile that was created. If you don’t need this folder any longer, you should delete it as it contains sensitive information.

Your computer should now be free of the “Update Flash Player” scam. If your current antivirus allowed a malicious program on your computer, you might want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still experiencing problems while trying to a malicious program from your computer, please ask for help in our Mac Malware Removal Help & Support forum.

Remove Update Flash Player from Android

To remove “Update Flash Player” scam from Android, follow these steps:

STEP 1: Uninstall the malicious apps from your Android phone
STEP 2: Use Malwarebytes for Android to remove “Update Flash Player” adware
STEP 3: Reset your browser settings to remove “Update Flash Player” scam

STEP 1: Uninstall the malicious apps from your Android phone

In this first step, we will check if any malicious apps are installed on your phone. Sometimes scams or adware apps can have usable Uninstall entries that can be used to remove these apps.

Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.
Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” (or “App Manager”) to see all the installed applications on your phone.
Find the malicious app.
The “Apps” screen will be displayed with a list of all the applications that are installed on your phone. Scroll through the list until you find the unknown or malicious app. Look out for any suspicious app that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program. Most often, cybercriminals hide malware inside the video or photo editing apps, weather apps, and camera apps.
Here are some known malicious apps: ES File Explorer, Xender, Amber Weather Widget, GO Weather Forecast & Widgets, Kitty Play, Touchpal, Z Camera. If you cannot find the malicious app, we advise you to uninstall all the recently installed applications.
Uninstall the malicious app
When you find a suspicious or malicious app, tap on it to uninstall it. This won’t start the app but will open up the app details screen. If the app is currently running press the “Force stop” button, then tap on “Uninstall”. A confirmation dialog should be displayed to confirm you want to uninstall the app, tap on “OK” to remove the malicious app from your phone.

STEP 2: Use Malwarebytes for Android to remove “Update Flash Player” adware

In this next step, we will install Malwarebytes for Android to scan and remove malicious apps from your phone. Malwarebytes for Android Free is an on-demand scanner that searches all files and apps quickly and effectively for malware or potentially unwanted programs such as screen lockers or adware, freeing your phone from bloatware.

Download Malwarebytes for Android.
You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.
Malwarebytes for AndroidScans your phone and removes malware
Get Malwarebytes for AndroidOpens the download page in a new tab.
Install Malwarebytes for Android on your phone.
In the Google Play Store, tap “Install” to install Malwarebytes for Android on your device. When the installation process has finished, tap “Open” to begin using Malwarebytes for Android. You can also open Malwarebytes by tapping on its icon in your phone menu or home screen.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process
When the Malwarebytes will open, you will see the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard which will guide you through a series of permissions and other setup options. Tap Get Started, or I have a Subscription if you already subscribe. Review any trial or plan offer and continue with the features you want. Complete setup to reach the dashboard. Manual Android scans are available in the free version; real-time protection and scheduled scans depend on your plan. Malwarebytes for Android will now ask for a set of permissions that are required to scan your device and protect it from malware. Tap on “Give permission” to continue. Tap on “Allow” to give permission to Malwarebytes to access the files on your phone.
Run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android
On the dashboard, find Device and tap Scan now. Allow storage access if requested so the scan can check files as well as apps. Keep Malwarebytes updated through Google Play, then let the scan finish. Open its results to see the detected app names and available actions.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now start scanning your phone for adware and other malicious apps. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Review detected apps and choose “Uninstall app”.
In the results, tap the menu beside a detected malicious app, choose Uninstall app, and confirm Android’s prompt. Do not select Always allow unless you have independently verified a false positive.
Restart your phone.
Malwarebytes for Android will now remove all the malicious apps that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your device.

STEP 3: Reset your browser settings to remove “Update Flash Player” pop-ups

In this final step, if your phone is still redirected to the “Update Flash Player” scam, we will need to reset the web browser settings to their original defaults. This step should be performed only if the issues have not been solved by the previous steps. Resetting the browser settings to their default it’s an easy task on Windows or Mac computers; however, when it comes to Android, this can’t be done directly because it’s not an option built-in into the browser settings. Restoring the browser settings on Android can be done by clearing the application data. This will remove all the cookies, cache, and other site settings that may have been saved. So let’s see how we can restore your browser to its factory settings.

Chrome for AndroidFirefoxOperaSamsung Internet BrowserMicrosoft Edge

Remove “Update Flash Player” scam from Chrome for Android

To reset Chrome for Android to its default settings, follow the below steps:

Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.
Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” (or “App Manager”) to see all the installed applications on your phone.
Find and tap on Chrome.
The “Apps” screen will be displayed with a list of all the apps installed on your phone. Scroll through the list until you find the Chrome app, then tap on it to open the apps details.
Tap “Storage”.
When the Chrome’s app info menu is displayed, tap on “Storage“.
Tap “Manage Space”.
Under the storage settings, you will get two options — Manage Space and Clear Cache. Tap on “Manage Space“.
Tap “Clear all data”.
Tap “Clear all data” to delete all Chrome’s data including accounts, bookmarks and your settings in order to reset the default settings.
Confirm by tapping “Ok”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue on with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, tap “Ok“.

Remove “Update Flash Player” scam from Firefox for Android

To reset Firefox for Android to its default settings, follow the below steps:

Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.
Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” (or “App Manager”) to see all the installed applications on your phone.
Find and tap on Firefox.
The “Apps” screen will be displayed with a list of all the apps installed on your phone. Scroll through the list until you find the Firefox app, then tap on it to open the apps details.
Tap “Storage”.
When the Firefox’s app info menu is displayed, tap on “Storage“.
Tap “Manage Space”.
Under the storage settings, you will get two options — Manage Space and Clear Cache. Tap on “Manage Space“.
Tap “Clear all data”.
Tap “Clear all data” to delete all Firefox’s data including accounts, bookmarks and your settings in order to reset the default settings.
Confirm by tapping “Ok”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue on with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, tap “Ok“.

Remove “Update Flash Player” from Opera browser

To reset the Opera browser to its default settings, follow the below steps:

Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.
Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” (or “App Manager”) to see all the installed applications on your phone.
Find and tap on Opera.
The “Apps” screen will be displayed with a list of all the apps installed on your phone. Scroll through the list until you find the Opera app, then tap on it to open the apps details.
Tap “Storage”.
When the Opera’s app info menu is displayed, tap on “Storage“.
Tap “Manage Space”.
Under the storage settings, you will get two options — Manage Space and Clear Cache. Tap on “Manage Space“.
Tap “Clear all data”.
Tap “Clear all data” to delete all Opera’s data including accounts, bookmarks and your settings in order to reset the default settings.
Confirm by tapping “Ok”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue on with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, tap “Ok“.

Remove “Update Flash Player” from Samsung Internet Browser

To reset the Samsung Internet Browser to its default settings, follow the below steps:

Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.
Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” (or “App Manager”) to see all the installed applications on your phone.
Find and tap on Samsung Internet Browser.
The “Apps” screen will be displayed with a list of all the apps installed on your phone. Scroll through the list until you find the Samsung Internet Browser app, then tap on it to open the apps details.
Tap “Storage”.
When the Samsung Internet Browser’s app info menu is displayed, tap on “Storage“.
Tap “Manage Space”.
Under the storage settings, you will get two options — Manage Space and Clear Cache. Tap on “Manage Space“.
Tap “Clear all data”.
Tap “Clear all data” to delete all Samsung Internet Browser’s data including accounts, bookmarks, and your settings in order to reset the default settings.
Confirm by tapping “Ok”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue on with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, tap “Ok“.

Remove “Update Flash Player” from Microsoft Edge for Android

To reset the Microsoft Edge for Android to its default settings, follow the below steps:

Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.
Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” (or “App Manager”) to see all the installed applications on your phone.
Find and tap on Microsoft Edge.
The “Apps” screen will be displayed with a list of all the apps installed on your phone. Scroll through the list until you find the Microsoft Edge app, then tap on it to open the apps details.
Tap “Storage”.
When the Microsoft Edge’s app info menu is displayed, tap on “Storage“.
Tap “Manage Space”.
Under the storage settings, you will get two options — Manage Space and Clear Cache. Tap on “Manage Space“.
Tap “Clear all data”.
Tap “Clear all data” to delete all Microsoft Edge’s data including accounts, bookmarks, and your settings in order to reset the default settings.
Confirm by tapping “Ok”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue on with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, tap “Ok“.

Your phone should now be free of the “Update Flash Player” scam. If your current antivirus allowed a malicious app on your phone, you may want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:

Restore your phone to factory settings by going to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset.
Ask for help in our Mobile Malware Removal Help & Support forum.

10 Rules to Avoid Online Scams

Here are 10 practical safety rules to help you avoid malware, online shopping scams, crypto scams, and other online fraud. Each tip includes a quick “if you already got hit” action.

Stop and verify before you click, log in, download, or pay.

Most scams win by creating urgency. Verify using a trusted method: type the website address yourself, use the official app, or call a known number (not the one in the message).

If you already clicked: close the page, do not enter passwords, and run a malware scan.
Keep your operating system, browser, and apps updated.

Updates patch security holes used by malware and malicious ads. Turn on automatic updates where possible.

If you saw a scary “update now” pop-up: close it and update only through your device settings or the official app store.
Use layered protection: antivirus plus an ad blocker.

Antivirus helps block malware. An ad blocker reduces scam redirects, phishing pages, and malvertising.

If your browser is acting weird: remove unknown extensions, reset the browser, then run a full scan.
Install apps, software, and extensions only from official sources.

Avoid cracked software, “keygens,” and random downloads. During installs, choose Custom/Advanced and decline bundled offers you do not recognize.

If you already installed something suspicious: uninstall it, restart, and scan again.
Treat links and attachments as untrusted by default.

Phishing often impersonates delivery services, banks, and popular brands. If it is unexpected, do not open attachments or log in through the message.

If you entered credentials: change the password immediately and enable 2FA.
Shop safely: research the store, then pay with protection.

Be cautious with brand-new stores, “closing sale” stories, and prices that make no sense. Prefer credit cards or PayPal for dispute options. Avoid wire transfers, gift cards, and crypto payments.

If you already paid: contact your card issuer or PayPal quickly to dispute the transaction.
Crypto rule: never pay a “fee” to withdraw or recover money.

Common patterns include fake profits, then “tax,” “gas,” or “verification” fees. Another is a “recovery agent” who demands upfront crypto.

If you already sent crypto: stop paying, save evidence (wallet addresses, TXIDs, chats), and report the scam to the platform used.
Secure your accounts with unique passwords and 2FA (start with email).

Use a password manager and unique passwords for every account. Enable 2FA using an authenticator app when possible.

If you suspect an account takeover: change passwords, sign out of all devices, and review recent logins and recovery settings.
Back up important files and keep one backup offline.

Backups protect you from ransomware and device failure. Keep at least one backup on an external drive that is not always connected.

If you suspect infection: do not connect backup drives until the system is clean.
If you think you are a victim: stop losses, document evidence, and escalate fast.

Move quickly. Speed matters for disputes, account recovery, and limiting damage.
- Stop payments and contact: do not send more money or respond to the scammer.
- Call your bank or card issuer: block transactions, replace the card if needed, and start a dispute or chargeback.
- Secure your email first: change the email password, enable 2FA, and remove unfamiliar recovery options.
- Secure other accounts: change passwords, enable 2FA, and log out of all sessions.
- Scan your device: remove suspicious apps or extensions, then run a full malware scan.
- Save evidence: screenshots, emails, order pages, tracking pages, wallet addresses, TXIDs, and chat logs.
- Report it: to the payment provider, marketplace, social platform, exchange, or wallet service involved.

These rules are intentionally simple. Most online losses happen when decisions are rushed. Slow down, verify independently, and use payment methods and account controls that give you recourse.

Fake Flash Player Update Scam: Remove the Alerts and Clean Your Device