Flash Player Premium SMS (Virus Removal Instructions) - Improved Guide
Flash Player Premium SMS Removal Guide
What is Flash Player Premium SMS?
Flash Player Premium SMS is a fraudulent message by scammers who try to swindle money from credulous people
Flash Player Premium SMS is a scam which claims that the most widely used Adobe Flash Player software must be downloaded or Updated. Usually, a malicious website is displaying the false message where the user can click on the download button directly. However, this alert is a phishing[1] attempt since the user is asked to send a message during the installation procedure to get an authentication code. Note, that the official program is completely free and do not require any SMS confirmation.
Name | Flash Player Premium SMS |
---|---|
Type | Malware |
Distribution | Gets into the system via bundling technique |
Symptoms | The user receives a fake alert which offers to download Adobe Flash Player. Once the download button is clicked, the installer requires to send an SMS via indicated number to get a confirmation code |
Dangers | This scam can be programmed to download potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) or even malware. Additionally, the gathered telephone numbers can be used for other future phishing attacks or sold to third-parties |
Removal | You can uninstall Flash Player Premium SMS and related cyber threats with FortectIntego |
People receive Flash Player Premium SMS alert if their computers are infected with adware or similar potentially unwanted programs (PUPs). The pop-up claims that Adobe Flash Player is an essential software and offers to download it with UpdateChecker for €5.79 per month. However, as we have already mentioned, the original program is free and does not come in a bundle with a third-party application!
Once the person proceeds with the installation of fake Flash Player Premium SMS, he/she is asked to complete the procedure by sending an SMS with the indicated text via given number. Unfortunately, this is a scam and cybercriminals can use this alert to trick you into installing spyware[2], banking Trojans or even malware. Likewise, you should NOT click on the download button.
Flash Player Premium SMS is a false message which tries to swindle money from novice computer users by offering to supposedly download a well-known software and get the activation code via SMS.
Additionally, if you send the SMS to the indicated number, scammers can use it later to make phishing calls. For example, they might pretend to be the representatives from well-known companies and ask to confirm your personal details. Also, they may send you infected links to infiltrate malicious programs on your smartphone. Therefore, you should know that Flash Player Premium SMS is a scam.
If you want to protect yourself from potential phishing attempts, you must remove Flash Player Premium SMS virus the first time you encounter it. Since a potentially unwanted program is displaying this fraudulent message, you should eliminate the PUP from your system as well. Note that it might be challenging. Thus, the smartest decision would be to complete it automatically.
For automatic Flash Player Premium SMS removal, we suggest using robust antivirus software. It will quickly identify all hidden adware-related elements on your system and delete them. Our top pick would be FortectIntego. However, you might also use another professional malware removal tool or use manual elimination instructions. Find them at the end of this article.
Ways how PUPs are distributed online
It is not a secret that developers of potentially unwanted programs take advantage of the popular and legal distribution technique called bundling. This method is very common since it allows the contrivers to trick people into installing their unreliable software without knowing it.
Bundling is a way to hide the PUP inside the setup and do not disclose the information about such actions if the user picks Quick/Recommended parameters. Therefore, we recommend you to rely on Advanced or Custom installation mode only and be attentive during the procedure.
You must search for suspicious pre-marked boxes offering to install unknown software. Usually, they are displayed as “Get XXX now,” “I agree to install XXX,” etc. Always de-select them and make sure that your system is not infected with a potentially unwanted program by running a full system scan with an anti-malware tool.
Learn how to get rid of Flash Player Premium SMS virus completely
It is wise to know that Flash Player Premium SMS virus can be very persistent. Experts from Utanvirus.se[3] report that people cannot uninstall it since the fake message reappears on a daily basis. This is not only annoying but also dangerous because users can accidentally click on the download button and fall into the trap of the scammers.
Therefore, we recommend you to remove Flash Player Premium SMS as quickly as possible. The easiest way to do so is with the help of professional security software which would identify and uninstall all adware-related components. This elimination method would ensure that you would no longer receive deceptive alerts during your browsing sessions.
Although, you might also try to perform manual Flash Player Premium SMS removal. However, this is not the safest option since the virus might have infiltrated the system with unknown and dangerous programs which you will not be able to identify. Thus, this option is recommended only for advanced PC users.
After you uninstall Flash Player Premium SMS, make sure that you will reset the alterations made by the adware on your browser settings. For that, we have prepared instructions showing how to fix Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, and others. You can find them below.
You may remove virus damage with a help of FortectIntego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
Getting rid of Flash Player Premium SMS. Follow these steps
Uninstall from Windows
If you see Flash Player Premium SMS scam during your browsing sessions, you must uninstall the adware from your Windows system to get rid of it. Below you will find instructions showing how to find the components of the PUP and delete them.
Instructions for Windows 10/8 machines:
- Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
- From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
- Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
- If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
- Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.
If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
- At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
- In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
- Click OK once the removal process is finished.
Delete from macOS
Remove items from Applications folder:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
- Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)
To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
- In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click on Uninstall at the bottom.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Privacy & security.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select everything (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Disable if you found any suspicious domain.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.
If this solution failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method. Note that you need to backup your data before proceeding.
- Find the following folder on your computer: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
- Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
- Right-click on them and pick Delete
- Now right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- When the new window opens, copy and paste the following command, and then press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\\AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
You can prevent the reappearance of fake messages on Mozilla only by removing all suspicious entries from your browser.
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select unwanted plugin and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Options.
- Under Home options, enter your preferred site that will open every time you newly open the Mozilla Firefox.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data…
- Select Cookies and Site Data, as well as Cached Web Content and press Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox…
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Remove from Google Chrome
You can fix Chrome after adware infection by uninstalling unknown extensions and other potentially dangerous elements.
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Delete from Safari
Remove unwanted extensions from Safari:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
Clear cookies and other website data from Safari:
- Click Safari > Clear History…
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari if the above-mentioned steps did not help you:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- Go to Advanced tab.
- Tick the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches.
After uninstalling this potentially unwanted program (PUP) and fixing each of your web browsers, we recommend you to scan your PC system with a reputable anti-spyware. This will help you to get rid of Flash Player Premium SMS registry traces and will also identify related parasites or possible malware infections on your computer. For that you can use our top-rated malware remover: FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.
How to prevent from getting malware
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity. While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful Private Internet Access VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important – recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data. Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as Data Recovery Pro can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
- ^ What is phishing?. Phishing.org. Resource for IT professionals.
- ^ Dave Coustan. How Spyware Works. Computer. HowStuffWorks.
- ^ UtanVirus. UtanVirus. Security and Spyware News.