The Dumping Ground » download manager http://ardvaark.net And who cares? Tue, 15 May 2012 14:57:58 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Update Flash Without Adobe’s Crappy Download Manager http://ardvaark.net/update-flash-without-adobes-crappy-download-manager http://ardvaark.net/update-flash-without-adobes-crappy-download-manager#comments Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:51:00 +0000 Brian http://ardvaark.net/update-flash-without-adobes-crappy-download-manager Recently, Adobe has pulled a hall-of-shame move and began trying to sneak in the installation of a craptacular background program called the “Adobe Download Manager” when updating Flash.  That’s just great, you know, since there are security updates for Flash almost every month.  So how do you get your required security update without Adobe’s bullshit download manager?

It’s a fairly simple process, and actually takes advantage of the generally-hated-by-most-people User Account Control (UAC) in Vista and 7 to block an unwanted action by a program.  And people say it’s nothing but annoying.

(Note: These instructions are for Firefox on Windows 7 or Vista; anything else and you’re on your own.)

  1. Download the Flash updater directly from here.
  2. Close all browser windows (including any opened by Prism).
  3. Run the updater.
  4. Start your browser back up.  Adobe will now sneakily try to install their awful download manager on your system.  This will generate a UAC prompt asking for administrative permissions to install.
  5. Click “No” on the UAC prompt to stop the installation in its tracks.

Screw you, Adobe.  You’re in the Hall of Shame for trying to install backdoor software with critical security updates to a ubiquitous web technology.  And win one for UAC!

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