Alternate ways to Flash Player updates (the sleazy toolbar/crapware pushing methods)

I absolutely hate the attempts by Flash (and Java, but see my "appendix" about Java), and anyone else, to push toolbars/browsers/etc. onto unsuspecting users during the upgrade process. And Flash updates recently got even more obnoxious, with a follow-up screen after the upgrade, trying to push more crappy software. It's not spyware, but it's just sooooo annoying.

QUESTION: Are any other haters of the installation nagging by the Flash upgrade process out there? What other methods have you used to bypass the sales pitch? (Flash isn't quite as irrelevant as Java yet, so I can't quite uninstall it.... yet... :-D )

= = = = = = APPENDIX = = = =
About Java's update nagging: Just uninstall Java: You probably won't miss it.

OK, don't uninstall it right away. Just disable it, maybe for about a week or a month. The vast majority of all computer users out there will be surprised to see that something that used to be so ubiquitous, is now mostly irrelevant for most users, and you won't even notice it's disabled, because so few websites use it any more.

Then, as revenge for all the years of having to uncheck "Do you want this crappy toolbar or that one?" during upgrades, uninstall Java completely! It's a fantastic feeling. And your computer will be more secure too!


I'm making the text of my rant small, since it's a tad off topic.

 

Re: Alternate ways to Flash Player updates (the sleazy toolbar/crapware pushing metho

This is an issue that goes way back in time and will rage on most likely forever.

Just try to look at the positive in it. Paying attention during the install process is normally all that's needed to avoid the bloat-ware and paying attention is a small price to pay to keep the software free.

You might have a look at this also. Third party programs and toolbars; what you need to know

 

Re: Alternate ways to Flash Player updates (the sleazy toolbar/crapware pushing metho

>> Re: Alternative ways to Obtain Flash Player updates <<

The stand-alone software called PatchMyPC should do the trick. No installation is required - you can just download the program and save to your desktop and then run it.

The program will produce a list of all the software of your computer that needs an update and you click "Perform the Update" or you can just update the programs on your own if you want.

If software is outdated it will show as Red, if it's updated it will show as Green, and if it's not installed it will show as black. You can download PatchMyPC from right here at MajorGeeks.

Important Side Note: You can also choose to "de-select" any programs that you do not want to update if you wish in the "Other" section's tab. You might want to keep this in mind because sometimes the program or utility "updates" may cause problems if you just click Perform the Update willi-nilly without checking them out first in the "Other" tab. As an example of this, it might be upgrade/update for a shareware program that is newer (ex. Program v4.0 to Program v5.0) and thus cost you money.

Good Luck!​

 

Re: Alternate ways to Flash Player updates (the sleazy toolbar/crapware pushing metho

Thanks, both, for the replies. I acknowledge that everybody's entitled to make a living, but at the same time (especially in the old days), a company like (at the time) Sun should have been "above" pushing products in a somewhat slimy way, and Adobe too. The straw that broke the camel's back for me was the very recent change to Flash updates, where you're nagged about the toolbar up front, then taken to a follow-up new window pushing something else after the upgrade too. It's sleazy.

I'll take a look at PatchMyPC. Thanks!

 

Re: Alternate ways to Flash Player updates (the sleazy toolbar/crapware pushing metho

I always update/download Adobe Flash via MajorGeeks: http://www.majorgeeks.com/mg/sortname/browsers.html Never found any *extras* with it.

I uninstalled Java a long time ago and so far never needed it. What a blessing to be able to do without!

 

Re: Alternate ways to Flash Player updates (the sleazy toolbar/crapware pushing metho

Flash download links without carp: (I have these bookmarked)
non-IE http://download.macromedia.com/get/...ensing/win/install_flash_player_11_plugin.exe
IE 7 through 11 for all but Win 8
http://download.macromedia.com/get/...sing/win/install_flash_player_11_active_x.exe