The 'Adobe Flash Player Update' pop-up states that Adobe Flash Player is out-of-date and must be updated. Be aware, however, that this pop-up is not genuine and attempts to trick users to install. Rather than updating Adobe Flash Player, set-ups install a number of additional PUPs.
Adobe today released a new security-focused update for its Flash Player software in an effort to patch a series of vulnerabilities that could give attackers control of your computer. Although Safari on macOS Sierra disables web plugins like Flash by default, Mac owners who have a standalone Flash Player installed on their system are at risk, even if they’re using Flash Player that’s built into Google’s Chrome browser.
One of the vulnerabilities could allow for arbitrary code execution. Adobe has assigned today’s update its top priority rating so you’re wholeheartedly recommended to update your copy of Flash Player as soon as possible because Adobe itself states that the vulnerability could let an attacker take control of the affected system.
To update Flash Player to the latest available version, use the built-in update feature or download the new version from the Adobe Flash Player Download Center.
TUTORIAL:How to manually check for Adobe Flash updates on the Mac
Adobe said Macs with the following versions of Flash Player are affected:
- Flash Player version 23.0.0.162 and earlier
- Flash Player Extended Support Release version 18.0.0.375 and earlier
- Flash Player for Google Chrome version 23.0.0.162 and earlier
You can check your current version of Flash Player on Adobe’s website. If the web tool says you’re running Flash Player version 23.0.0.185 or later, you’re in the clear.
Adobe also pushed updates for Flash Player for Windows, Linux and ChromeOS.
TUTORIAL:How to remove Flash Player from your Mac
If you use Google Chrome, the browser’s silent update mechanism should ensure that you’re always running the latest version of both Chrome and the built-in Flash Player.
Those running the standalone Flash Player on their Mac should enable the option “Allow Adobe to install updates” in the Flash preference pan to automatically receive Flash security patches and other updates in the future.
Source: Adobe
Mozilla has 'temporarily' blocked the Flash multimedia player on its Firefox browser following a security alert from Flash's maker, Adobe Systems.
The Flash Player Plugin was added to the list of Firefox's blocked add-ons Monday and Mozilla followed up with a Twitter post Tuesday morning.
BIG NEWS!! All versions of Flash are blocked by default in Firefox as of now. <a href='https://t.co/4SjVoqKPrR'>https://t.co/4SjVoqKPrR</a> <a href='https://twitter.com/hashtag/tech?src=hash'>#tech</a> <a href='https://twitter.com/hashtag/infosec?src=hash'>#infosec</a> <a href='http://t.co/VRws3L0CBW'>pic.twitter.com/VRws3L0CBW</a>
—@MarkSchmidtyWe are committed to protecting our users from security risks. That's why–following an Adobe alert–we temporarily blocked <a href='https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flash?src=hash'>#Flash</a> in Firefox.
—@firefoxThe move to block Flash comes after security weaknesses in the browser add-on was revealed in documents stolen from the Italian security company Hacking Team.
One of Hacking Team's tools stolen in the hack is aimed at taking advantage of a previously unknown bug in Flash to hijack targeted computers.
While Adobe Systems said last week that it would patch the security flaw, the Firefox block includes even the most recent version of the plugin.
Alex Stamos, the new head of security at Facebook, called for the end of the animation software in a tweet on Sunday.
It is time for Adobe to announce the end-of-life date for Flash and to ask the browsers to set killbits on the same day.
—@alexstamosElsewhere on Twitter, many pointed out that the iPhone was released without Flash support and that Steve Jobs wrote that 'Flash falls short' for browsers in the mobile era.
Fun fact: many smart people originally thought it was a huge problem that iPhone did not support Flash.
Adobe Flash Player A Website Wants To Open
—@mikkoFacebook now wants Flash dead. ElOhEl. Remember how Google, Microsoft and the herd ganged up on Apple to promote Flash against surging iOS?
—@counternotionsIs Adobe Flash Player A Problem
We all laughed at Steve Jobs when he refused to enable Flash on iOS devices, now thr are tutorials on how to Disable flash on your browsers
Is Adobe Flash Player A Free Download
—@GabbbarSinghIt's taken 8 years to go from 'OMG iPhone doesn't support flash' to 'uninstall flash from every single device you own'.
Is Adobe Flash Player A Security Risk
—@yaakov_hIs Adobe Flash Player A Virus
Plugins like Adobe Flash can be disabled or uninstalled in the 'add-ons' or plugins settings of your browser.