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.

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.
Uninstall from Windows
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.

Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.

Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).

Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.

- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.

Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.

Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.

Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.

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 Remove.

Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (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 Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
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.

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.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
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 the unwanted extension and click Remove.

Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
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 and Temporary cached files and pages, then click 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
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 suspicious extensions 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 dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.

Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.

Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.

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