Crazy Bizarre Experience accessing Google Play Store Website with Windows 10 PC Running WSA Complete

Question

My Android phone and Android tablet have the bad Webroot v.5.5.4.36995 update. I've been monitoring the situation here in the Community and also at the Google Play Store Webroot Mobile website which I access with my Windows 10 desktop PC. Nothing unusual ever occurred during the many days of the bad update saga. But today at the Webroot Mobile Android Play Store web page accessed with my PC, suddenly without warning or notice of any kind, something caused McAfee Security Scan Plus to be installed on my PC and it automatically ran a security scan!!!!!!!! BIZARRE. I took screenshots and can post them here if necessary to prove my claim. I checked my PC's Windows list of installed software and the McAfee is listed, and the desktop shortcut it installed points to
C:\Program Files\McAfee Security Scan\3.11.968
I also examined the Webroot Mobile for Android web page, and there wasn't any mention or link to any McAfee anything.
Also, the WSA Complete for Windows running on my PC didn't do anything during the McAfee install and security scan.
Does anyone have any idea why and how this happened?

TripleHelix · Accepted Answer

For years McAfee Security Scan has been bundled with Adobe Flash and Reader and other products so you have to be careful when installing programs. https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ so I would call it a PUA/PUP or just plain Adware.

See here: https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=KB68706 and here: https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2224689

happy · Answer

For years McAfee Security Scan has been bundled with Adobe Flash and Reader and other products so you have to be careful when installing programs.

Thanks @TripleHelix that's what happened. Up until now, I was always careful to not allow any of that McAfee stuff that's included as the default in Flash updates. I keep Flash updated in case I need it but I have it disabled in my default browser, Firefox. But today I was distracted and not paying attention and they finally caught me off guard. The fact that McAfee ran when I was at the Webroot Mobile Play Store site was just a coincidence. With all of the Webroot issues to deal with recently, I'm spooked about everything related to Webroot. My bad, I'm an idiot.

Crazy Bizarre Experience accessing Google Play Store Website with Windows 10 PC Running WSA Complete

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