Safari runs on startup after Adobe Flash install, must force quit

[tbgg]

I needed to install Adobe Flash for something on my Mac Mojave desktop. I ran the installer, and when it finished a couple of new things unrelated to Flash opened up. One was Mac Cleaner Pro, which I promptly closed and have since removed. The other is my Safari browser opened to the site mvtn.media-bucket.com. Looks like some kind of site for watching movies or tv shows. Annoyingly, when that window opens, I can't shut it down and my only option to get rid of it is to Force Quit Safari. I don't use Safari as my main browser, so it's not as annoying as it could be, but anything that opens a browser window that I can't close easily is something I want to get rid of. If I reboot my computer, the Mac Cleaner Pro is gone but the Safari page keeps reopening, and if I force quit Safari and relaunch, it appears again.

The mvtn.media-bucket.com site is not configured as my home page in Safari. Also, there is nothing related under Login Items in my User profile under System Preferences.

I have not been able to find anything in any of my StartupItems folders. Do you know of anyplace else I can look to get rid of this super-annoying behavior?

Thanks,

~tbgg

 

[kohlson]

Perhaps you've inadvertently installed "Player" -malware. Certainly if you saw a flashing pop-up that says You Need To Install Adobe Flash.

 

[jbarley]

Times like this is, the first thing I do is run the free MalWareBytes app...
https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/52105/malwarebytes

 

[Ruggy]

Agreed, sounds like malware possibly CrescentCore. It's been an unusually bad month for Mac base malware.
https://arstechnica.com/information...-for-in-the-wild-mac-malware-heres-a-rundown/

 

[MSastre]

Never install Flash Player from a pop up prompt. If you need it, always go to Adobe.com and download directly from the source.

 

[CreatorCode]

I needed to install Adobe Flash for something on my Mac Mojave desktop.

Really? I doubt that. Flash Player is deprecated and sites that still use it are very rare.

What was this "something"?

 

[kohlson]

Really? I doubt that. Flash Player is deprecated and sites that still use it are very rare.

In my support circle, I have had to communicate several times: do NOT install Adobe Flash from a pop-up that says "You need to Install/Update." The pop ups can look official enough, especially to people who are not quasi-admins. And while sites that use Adobe Flash are quite rare, they are still around. One of my relatives frequents a site that uses Flash.

 

[Fishrrman]

Sounds to me like you installed A BAD COPY of Flash, and malware along with it.

THE VERY FIRST THING YOU SHOULD DO:
Download MalwareBytes and run it:
https://www.malwarebytes.com

IMPORTANT:
Select the "home" option.
It's a FREE download

IMPORTANT:
You DO NOT NEED TO BUY A SUBSCRIPTION to run MalwareBytes.
It will run FOREVER IN FREE MODE.
When you open it, IGNORE the button to "Upgrade Now".
Just click "Scan Now".
Again, you DO NOT have to buy the pay-for version!

OK, once you have this done, you could install A GOOD COPY of Flash.

The following link always downloads the latest copy of Flash directly from a good source:
https://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/flashplayer/latest/help/install_flash_player_osx.dmg

Then run that.

But RUN MALWAREBYTES FIRST !!!!!!

 

[kohlson]

Sounds to me like you installed A BAD COPY of Flash

I think it's worth pointing out that even without Adobe Flash installed, malware-bait pop-ups regarding Updating Flash can still occur. I haven't had Flash installed in a couple of years, and on clean-install systems I get them. Sometimes, from "legitimate" sites like washingtonpost.com and other. It's not that it comes from the site, but I suspect from the associated ads served.

 

[MSastre]

I don't use any secondary site to get Flash Player, and can only recommend Adobe's site. You can find Flash Player at bottom of the main page. Free version of Malwarebytes is also recommended.