Downloading Flashplayer requires........

....... turning off anti virus.  Is this safe and can it be done off line?   Don't know why I'm suddenly having problems with flashplayer, but I keep being asked to download it everytime I try to watch TV online.  When I go into 'install/uninstall' on my hard drive, it is listed as being there, but going into 'find/fix problem' reqires me to temporarily uninstall my anti virus which I'm wary of doing.