Adobe has warned internet users about the dangers of downloading malicious software masquerading as its Flash Player product.

It says there are links on social networking sites which take users to other websites claiming to host Flash Player but which often carry malicious software, Macworld has reported.

Although the labelling of malware as legitimate software is a long-established tactic, the website reports, Flash Player's ubiquity on websites means most users have installed the software.

It says that Adobe's advisory statement warned: "If the download is from an unfamiliar URL or an IP address, you should be suspicious."

The company added that users can verify the legitimacy of a Flash Player installer by right-clicking on it and looking in the digital signatures tab within the Properties field, where it should state that the publisher is "Adobe Systems, Incorporated".

Meanwhile, Adobe has just released version 4.0 of its Scene7 product, which it says is a "major update" to the online business marketing software.

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