The Adobe Cheap Trick – PC Magazine
Stop pretending like you know what I want, Adobe. You don't.
I was appalled when I loaded the latest version of Adobe Flash on my machine to find that Adobe had decided to saddle me with McAfee's Security Scan Plus. I was never asked if I wanted this product. (I didn't.)
At first, I thought that perhaps it actually wasn't a full-blown virus scanner. Maybe it was some sort of specialty program that was installed with Flash to protect me from the weird Flash-centric malware systems that make experts cringe. “You can't get rid of them,” one guy told me. I supposed that would be good.
I went to add/remove programs and there it was: McAfee. Well, maybe it was OK, I thought. It was for my own good.
But wait—bingo!
Like clockwork, up sprang a dialog box, telling me that I needed to “update” my McAfee software to get full protection. Protection from what? This wasn't looking like a specialized Flash watchdog anymore. This was an unwanted program plain and simple. So, I went to add/remove programs and deleted it. I already use an AVG security app, and I didn’t need two virus removal programs on the same machine, thank you.
I’m annoyed that Adobe endorsed this move. I had no option; it was just installed. Frankly, this stinks, especially since sticky and problematic code, such as virus scanners, are often difficult to remove and interfere with normal operations.
Adobe has pulled this crap before and needs to stop. It makes it look like a little Mickey Mouse software company trying to pocket money from nickel-and-dime deals.
A few years back, if you wanted to update your Adobe Acrobat PDF reader, a dialog box would appear recommending the fantastic option of loading Yahoo Toolbar with your Acrobat reader. You only got Acrobat if you clicked “Yes.” This was ridiculous. I never updated Acrobat just to avoid the agony of installing some useless toolbar, hunting it down, and uninstalling the thing.
Again, this was an underhanded trick. Who does these sorts of deals with shady third parties, anyway? Who at Adobe thinks they are a good way to improve the corporate image and approves them?
Have you ever looked online for utility software and found yourself confronted with a download page that seemingly lacked a download button for the product itself? Instead, all sorts of come-ons clutter the page—for registry cleaners, speed boosters, and other unwanted weird junk that are always from sketchy sources.
Everyone has encountered this. Whenever you do— especially if you’ve been tricked into clicking the wrong download button— you come away with a queasy feeling about the companies involved. My first thought: sleazeballs.
So how is Adobe’s ploy any better? Even Microsoft has never pulled a stunt like this.
My advice to Adobe: Stop! You aren’t doing your users any favors.
More John C. Dvorak:
• HP Touchpad Sells Out Overnight
• iPad 3 Jinx? Not Likely
• Kill Websites that Kill Browsers
• Americans and Their Smartphones
• Social Networking's Two-Edged Sword
• more
Go off-topic with John C. Dvorak.
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