Looking for a clean, non-bundled, spyware-free flash player:
Up until about a month ago, I had no trouble playing flash. I have Adobe’s Macromedia flash player, 9.0.45.0 version. Now, most everywhere they’re requiring a download of the latest version in order to use the website. I want to be able to use the sites, but I have a problem with Adobe.
My primary problem with Adobe is that the last time I downloaded Adobe software, it came bundled with a Google toolbar, which was undisclosed, at the download and in the initializing program. I’m sure many of you experienced the same.
Yes, I always do a custom install, and yes, I always read carefully what I am downloading; there was no opt-out for the extra software and no disclosure that downloading and installing the intended software would also install something else.
When I discovered that the Google toolbar was present, it took a couple of hours for me to ferret it out, in my registry, where it had embedded itself everywhere. Frankly, I’m still not sure I have it all out, since not every entry associated with the Google toolbar had the word “Google,” contained in it.
Part of the registry entries was instructions to send information back to Google, from my computer. As far as I’m concerned, this makes it spyware, especially since it was put on my computer without my foreknowledge and permission. I don’t trust Adobe as far as I could throw my computer.
So, now that so many websites are requiring the updated flash player, my questions are:
- I wonder whether Spybot has determined whether Adobe flash player contains spyware, allowing them to track and collect information about your use of their product?
- Is there any alternative to Adobe’s flash player, that’s compatible with websites requiring an updated version of Adobe’s flash player?
- And if not, does someone know how I can get a clean, non-bundled, spyware free copy of Adobe’s flash player?
I appreciate any help you may have, with this.