‘Problems have been detected with your Flash Player version’ Alert

The 'Problems have been detected with your Flash Player version' alert is a fake Flash update that tries to infect your computer, ironically, by claiming that your Flash installation has become infected and requires a new download for 'cleaning.' While the 'Problems have been detected with your Flash Player version' alert provides a minor spin on an old style of attack, the 'Problems have been detected with your Flash Player version' alert still has the same goal as other kind of pop-ups examined by malware researchers and may install threatening or unwanted programs on your computer. If your browser security settings should allow a 'Problems have been detected with your Flash Player version' alert to display, refusing the 'Problems have been detected with your Flash Player version' alert's download request and then using anti-malware tools to have no doubt that your machine hasn't been compromised always is the only safe choice for your PC.

The 'Flash Corruption' You Shouldn't Believe In

Flash is among the most used platforms for loading complex website content, including the streaming movies from which YouTube built its business model. Updating Flash is essential for viewing websites appropriately and for keeping your computer safe from criminals who might exploit outdated Flash versions to attack your computer. Unfortunately, criminals are all too aware of this necessity and often use pop-up attacks like the 'Problems have been detected with your Flash Player version' alert to con victims to initiating self-damaging software downloads.

The 'Problems have been detected with your Flash Player version' alert is loaded through compromised websites and, in some cases, non-compromised websites that have been hacked and injected with content that redirects your browser. Sites using outdated versions of WordPress often have been exploited for similar purposes, but the 'Problems have been detected with your Flash Player version' alert also may appear on fake movie websites and software-pirating websites, for example.

No matter where the 'Problems have been detected with your Flash Player version' alert shows up, the 'Problems have been detected with your Flash Player version' alert always will claim that your version of Flash has been compromised and must be reinstalled. Since malware researchers often warn that you never should take the word of random pop-ups from untrusted sources that any software on your PC has been infected, this claim should be an immediate warning sign that your PC is being attacked. Although the 'Problems have been detected with your Flash Player version' alert is designed to make you install its payload, yourself, the 'Problems have been detected with your Flash Player version' alert also may include exploits that could accomplish this goal.

The Real Problems that Fake Flash Player Problems may Cause to Your PC

The 'Problems have been detected with your Flash Player version' alert is a basic delivery method for threatening software. This software may include browser-hijacking add-ons, spyware programs that may steal private information, backdoor Trojans that may create serious security vulnerabilities, or worms that distribute themselves through thumb drives and local networks.

Because the possibilities from individual 'Problems have been detected with your Flash Player version' alerts are so broad, you should assume that your PC has been compromised after any encounter with one. As usual, strong anti-malware software can be used to detect and delete any harmful software that the 'Problems have been detected with your Flash Player version' alert may have installed, even in the event that you rejected its 'Flash download.'

However, as the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of a cure, and malware experts always encourage blocking these attacks before they ever can get started. Disabling browser scripts by default, blocking pop-ups and using anti-malware tools that can detect Web-based PC threats are some of the most direct ways of letting your security deal with a 'Problems have been detected with your Flash Player version' alert before the 'Problems have been detected with your Flash Player version' alert can deal with your computer.

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