Adobe’s Flash Player has been around for quite a while, and most people have grown used to the technology – but it also has a “darker” side which many computer users who aren’t very tech savvy tend to neglect. The platform is known for being somewhat insecure, and has been plagued by security issues throughout its entire existence. And now, it seems that these problems are actually starting to become more prominent, as more security holes have been discovered recently, and Adobe have been rushing to patch all issues as quickly as possible.
It’s reached a point where Flash is being considered insecure as a whole, and many experts are recommending that users block the platform by default and refrain from using it. Of course, considering how much of the Web is practically built on Flash nowadays, that is easier said than done. And in the end, many users just prefer to take the risk and keep using Flash, despite knowing that this compromises their security.
What does the future look like though? With so many issues constantly popping up, is it safe to assume that Flash will eventually be phased out? It’s actually already happening – but it’s not just about Flash, but rather all “ActiveX” controls in general. All major browsers are now deprecating the use of those platforms, and are moving towards HTML5 as a more unified approach to rich Web content. In fact, developer versions of some browsers already block the plugin by default.
As a user, right now it’s become more important than ever before to keep Flash in check and always make sure that the platform is up to date. There’s a lot to lose from missing potential security holes with Flash, and users should make sure to never skip any update notifications. This is partly important because hackers nowadays are relying particularly on so-called “zero day” exploits, which target the latest versions of the platform. This means that even being slightly behind the main update line would be enough to be at serious risk.
So, needless to say, those who have more sensitive information on their computers should not skip any Flash updates in the foreseeable future, and keep an eye on developments in the Web to know when Flash has become officially deprecated by all major browsers. While this will likely take a while and won’t happen overnight, it’s a change that has been strongly welcomed by many experts in the field. It will be a difficult situation for a while, as users will need to take special measures to adapt to the changes, but it will be worth it in the long run.
..and it is even less important to update the proprietary software on dying embedded platform simply because Adobe doesn’t offer precompiled binary blobs and the responsible embedded platform brand couldn’t care less to include important security patches just because their old outgoing/legacy products never shall see the need to include new fixes for their product ecocycle.
Good job Adobe and all, for your binary blob stance riddled with security flaws, prebuilt binary blobs for every platform on request by their respective vendor, ignore to push those newer versions of your software online to legacy platforms and to include McAfee bloatware installations by default for unsuspecting PC users. You sure do know how to treat your customers right.