zip file? versus adobe flash player

ZIP files are usually a single file, with additional files inside...


MUCH LIKE: When ordering several products from a store, and then they place them all into one large box, in order to ship them to you.

ZIP = Large Shipping Box.


Most often, ZIP files usually contain pictures, documents, programs, and so on.

You have to UNZIP them, in order to access all of the files inside.


From my experience, most Unzipped ZIP files are safe...

How ever there may be virus programs contained with in them.

You should at least run an antivirus scan on them, before you try to open them.


Your ZIP file, may contain the Flash Game Files that your are looking for.

But, there should have been instructions on the website that you got the ZIP file from, on how to how open it, and how to run those games and so on...

Thank you 

Wait.

What are you doing to download this? 

Don't mess with the zip file. Delete it. It's likely malware or adware.

I'm just going to give you the links to what you need to download. This a link to download the game:  www.freemahjong.info/mahjong-games/mahjong-soedini-pary.swf

This is the program you need to run it: fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/flashplayer/updaters/32/flashplayer_32_sa_debug.exe

You run the program and go to File -> Open. A window will come up. Click Browse... and load the game.

There are multiple games so let me know if you want to download more; I just picked the first one. Sorry for the terseness, but in a rush for now. I'll be back later.

Aw, thank you. I don't know if that's entirely true but I'll take the compliment, enigma.

Also, you're never too old or mature for games, in my opinion. What's fun and engaging is fun and engaging at any age.

Anyway, I'd like to go over a couple of things. The site you were using for Mahjong raised a lot of red flags with me. I do not think it is trustworthy at all and in fact, I suspect it may be outright malicious.

Firstly, it is covered with misleading download links which are actually links to adware and malware. Often times, disreputable sites will offer a big, bright download button, seemingly for whatever content they provide-- be it movies, a tv show, a game-- but they are attempting to trick you into installing invasive and potentially malicious software from third-party hustlers. That doesn't necessarily mean the content is bad but it does mean the site does not care about protecting its users so much as they care about ad revenue. This site does exactly that and that's a bad sign.

If you've clicked one of those buttons, delete anything you've downloaded immediately. Don't open it, don't run it, just trash it.

Secondly, and I'll try not to get technical, but this site is running incognito. There is a basic look up function called WHOIS which allows you to see who is operating a website. Think of it like a phone directory for websites where you start with a name and you can find the number and an address, provided it's listed. This website is hiding their WHOIS information. That alone is not evidence of wrongdoing-- there are legitimate reasons somebody would want to do this-- but considered with the above misleading content, it is another check against them.

Finally, the website is riddled with broken English and it does not have a contact page so there's no way to know who or what is running it. I never like to see that because often times, it means it was cobbled together with another purpose in mind and not meant to provide content. No offense, but often times, these sites are designed to sucker in older or younger people who don't know better and just want to play a fun game and get them to click the ads / link to adware.

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Now, that doesn't necessarily mean the games themselves are malicious and I think we can get you the games you want. But I'd like you to take some steps to protect yourself before you even try running any games, even with the information I gave you in the previous response.

I would like you to download this program (assuming you are using Windows and don't have it already) called MalwareBytes. It will help protect you from annoying and malicious software. You can just click the link and install it.

www.malwarebytes.com/mwb-download/thankyou/

MalwareBytes can run scans on your computer and can remove anything not on the level, as well as offer a bit of protection before harmful software is even installed. It's very simple to install and use so you should have no issues.

Next, I would like you to download another program called Sandboxie. This will allow you to run programs that may be harmful without allowing them the ability to harm your computer or your files. It essentially creates a computer inside your computer and while not complete protection, it will protect you from the vast, vast majority of any issues.

filehippo.com/download_sandboxie/post_download/ 

Sandboxie, I may have to walk you through. It is not overly complex but you may need a hand for it as it is not self-explanatory either.

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So, do that first and when you get back, I can walk you through any issues and we'll get you playing your games. Apologies for any delays in subsequent responses.

You can be close to certain that the games on the Windows Store are safe. The only reason I don't give you 100% is because there is no 100%. There's no 100% that you won't be struck by lightning and then hit by a bus but the odds are definitely slim.

Microsoft has a reputation to uphold and while it is possible that some shady stuff sneaks onto their platform, most times it's not going to be malicious (as in damaging to your computer or letting people access your computer to steal personal information) because that's bad for business and they want to stomp down on it. They won't catch them all immediately but they will catch them. Nonetheless, you should always do your due diligence as a consumer. Check the reviews and user feedback. Look up the developer. Inform yourself. If you feel uncertain, wait it out a bit if there isn't much information you can get. If you decide to dip your toe in and the water is freezing, be the person who makes the feedback to alert others.

The programs I suggested will add an extra couple of layers of protection, absolutely. I would consider MalwareBytes to be required and Sandboxie or even a virtual machine  to be extremely helpful when testing out unknown programs. There are even more methods than that but they get increasingly complex to operate. There is such a thing as overestimating your need for security and while it usually won't affect your quality of life to do so, you can reach the point where you're setting up tripwires and shotgun traps in the empty desert. A bit of common sense is often defense enough.

Games freeze on occasion. Not sure what to tell you there. It just happens.

As far as the ads, they're baked into the games. Many casual games do this because it is where they get their revenue; they offer the product for free or cheap, get you hooked in, and make their money off of advertisers or incentivizing players to give them money to avoid the hassle they deliberately created. I personally do not like when games do this but it's more scummy business model than outright maliciousness. Some games do need the money but I would say the vast majority are just cash grabs with an addictive (usually derivative) game stapled on. It's a big issue in the gaming industry, not going to get into it now.

For the TLDR version, yes, they're probably safe.