How to Avoid the Adobe Flash Player Scam App
A few days ago, we talked about the F11 app, which asked people to pay $19 to get Adobe Flash Player into their smartphones and tablets. This is completely understandable; since devices running on Android 4.1 and above no longer support Flash Player, a lot of people are looking for ways to download this program. This way, they can play games, listen to music, and access other content that require Flash.
However, the problem with F11 was that it was an Adobe Flash Player scam app. It asked people to pay money, but it didn’t really give them any product in return. Instead, after downloading the “app”, users are instructed to download Mozilla Firefox or Dolphin Browser and use it to access the rich media content they want to view. Mozilla Firefox and Dolphin Browser are both Flash-enabled and free to download from the Google Play Store, which means you essentially don’t have to spend anything to access Flash content.
F11 has been taken down from the Google Play Store, but it probably won’t be the last Adobe Flash Player scam app we’ll see. Fortunately, there are ways for you to stay away from unreliable apps, such as the following:
Doing your research
Before downloading any mobile application, take the time to check if it’s really genuine and will give you your money’s worth. In the case of F11, the name of the developer should have been a warning sign that something was off — no one else apart from Adobe has the right to market and sell Flash Player apps. And Adobe doesn’t even sell them; the company offers them without any charges.
Exploring alternative browsers
If you need Flash Player on your mobile device, the best thing to do is to download an alternative browser like Firefox, Dolphin Browser, Puffin Browser, and Photon Flash Browser. This way, you can access rich media content without having to put your sensitive information at risk.
Downloading Flash Player from the Adobe website
If you own an Android 4.0 phone or lower, you can get an official Flash Player app. Simply visit helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/archived-flash-player-versions.html to download the right installation file for your Android 2.x, 3.X, or 4.0 device. If you own an Android device that runs on Android 4.1 or higher, you won’t be able to get an official app since Flash Player is no longer supported by Android. Consider downloading a Flash-powered browser (as mentioned above).
Use these tips to avoid getting victimized by Flash Player scam apps.