Browser redirected to get "Critical Update for Adobe Flash"

[mmcdonald1986]

I typed facebook.com in my firefox browser today and was redirected to a full-page ad demanding that I am "required to get critical adobe flash update." I'm sure it was a scam, but I had to close out my browser to get rid of it. It's only happened once, but still, if there is some malware on my computer, I would like to get rid of it.

Here are my current extensions / add-ons / plugins for firefox:

AdBlock Plus
Saved Password Editor
iTunes Application Detector
Java Deployment Toolkit (which is blocked by firefox. I don't know what it is or why its in my browser)
Java Platform SE 7 U51
Picasa
Shockwave Flash
Shockwave for Director
Silverlight Plug-in

As you can see, I don't even HAVE an ADOBE flash plugin to update (unless that's what shockwave is). Anyway, what's your best advice for cleaning this little bugger out of my computer / browser?

Thanks.

 

[HarriePateman]

Hello,

It is possibly a add virus, i will attach a document below that you can read, and act on.

If unsuccessful please don't hesitate you Contact 7Forum.

Harrie

 

[HarriePateman]

Also a full virus scan would help, eliminate anything if it is there.

 

[Jacee]

"critical adobe flash update" ... nope, not good! Let's look to see if you might have adware re-directing you, then we will look at some more possibilities.


1. Please download AdwCleaner by Xplode and save to your Desktop.

• Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool.
  Vista/Windows 7/8 users right-click and select Run As Administrator.
• Click on the Scan button.
• AdwCleaner will begin...be patient as the scan may take some time to complete.
• After the scan has finished, click on the Report button...a logfile (AdwCleaner[R#].txt) will open in Notepad for review (where the largest value of # represents the most recent report).
• The contents of the log file may be confusing. Unless you see a program name that you know should not be removed, don't worry about it. If you see an entry you want to keep, let me know about it.
• Copy and paste the contents of that logfile in your next reply.
• A copy of all logfiles are saved in the C:\AdwCleaner folder which was created when running the tool.

2. Using AdwCleaner v3: Scan & Clean:
Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool again.
Click on the Scan button.
AdwCleaner will begin to scan your computer like it did before.
After the scan has finished...This time click on the Clean button.
Press OK when asked to close all programs and follow the onscreen prompts.
Press OK again to allow AdwCleaner to restart the computer and complete the removal process.
After rebooting, a logfile report (AdwCleaner[S#].txt) will open automatically (where the largest value of # represents the most recent report).
Copy and paste the contents of that logfile in your next reply.
A copy of that logfile will also be saved in the C:\AdwCleaner folder

 

[HarriePateman]

"critical adobe flash update" ... nope, not good! Let's look to see if you might have adware re-directing you, then we will look at some more possibilities.


1. Please download AdwCleaner by Xplode and save to your Desktop.

• Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool.
  Vista/Windows 7/8 users right-click and select Run As Administrator.
• Click on the Scan button.
• AdwCleaner will begin...be patient as the scan may take some time to complete.
• After the scan has finished, click on the Report button...a logfile (AdwCleaner[R#].txt) will open in Notepad for review (where the largest value of # represents the most recent report).
• The contents of the log file may be confusing. Unless you see a program name that you know should not be removed, don't worry about it. If you see an entry you want to keep, let me know about it.
• Copy and paste the contents of that logfile in your next reply.
• A copy of all logfiles are saved in the C:\AdwCleaner folder which was created when running the tool.

2. Using AdwCleaner v3: Scan & Clean:
Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool again.
Click on the Scan button.
AdwCleaner will begin to scan your computer like it did before.
After the scan has finished...This time click on the Clean button.
Press OK when asked to close all programs and follow the onscreen prompts.
Press OK again to allow AdwCleaner to restart the computer and complete the removal process.
After rebooting, a logfile report (AdwCleaner[S#].txt) will open automatically (where the largest value of # represents the most recent report).
Copy and paste the contents of that logfile in your next reply.
A copy of that logfile will also be saved in the C:\AdwCleaner folder

Thank you for confirming my suspicions.

 

[mmcdonald1986]

# AdwCleaner v3.023 - Report created 06/04/2014 at 08:48:40
# Updated 01/04/2014 by Xplode
# Operating System : Windows 7 Home Premium Service Pack 1 (64 bits)
# Username : McDonald - MCDONALD-PC
# Running from : C:\Users\McDonald\Downloads\AdwCleaner.exe
# Option : Scan

***** [ Services ] *****


***** [ Files / Folders ] *****


***** [ Shortcuts ] *****


***** [ Registry ] *****


***** [ Browsers ] *****

-\\ Internet Explorer v0.0.0.0


-\\ Mozilla Firefox v28.0 (en-US)

[ File : C:\Users\McDonald\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\ijir76n7.default\prefs.js ]


*************************

AdwCleaner[R0].txt - [639 octets] - [06/04/2014 08:48:40]

########## EOF - C:\AdwCleaner\AdwCleaner[R0].txt - [698 octets] ##########

 

[mmcdonald1986]

# AdwCleaner v3.023 - Report created 06/04/2014 at 08:52:16
# Updated 01/04/2014 by Xplode
# Operating System : Windows 7 Home Premium Service Pack 1 (64 bits)
# Username : McDonald - MCDONALD-PC
# Running from : C:\Users\McDonald\Downloads\AdwCleaner.exe
# Option : Clean

***** [ Services ] *****


***** [ Files / Folders ] *****


***** [ Shortcuts ] *****


***** [ Registry ] *****


***** [ Browsers ] *****

-\\ Internet Explorer v0.0.0.0


-\\ Mozilla Firefox v28.0 (en-US)

[ File : C:\Users\McDonald\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\ijir76n7.default\prefs.js ]


*************************

AdwCleaner[R0].txt - [777 octets] - [06/04/2014 08:48:40]
AdwCleaner[S0].txt - [699 octets] - [06/04/2014 08:52:16]

########## EOF - C:\AdwCleaner\AdwCleaner[S0].txt - [758 octets] ##########

 

[Jacee]

Looks ok .... Sometimes a bad DNS entry will be cached and you will need to flush it.


Right click on a Command Prompt, and choose to run as Administrator.
Copy/paste ipconfig /flushdns into the command prompt
Press the 'enter' key.


That should do it.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Just for the record I believe Adobe updater is on the Startup menu not an actual browser add-on,
Cheers.
I would also see what this finds,
http://www.superantispyware.com/?tag=SUPERANTISPYWARE

 

[HarriePateman]

Adobe's programs and any other software will never ask you to update through the browser. A useful tip for you.

 

[Jacee]

I have Adobe set to notify me when there is a new update. It opens a box before I go on the Internet, asking if I want to 'update now or later'. It will then go to it's servers if I click for the update download.