Adobe is finally pulling the plug on Flash. Adobe Flash player has been considered a performance-hampering security risk. Flash was originally released by Adobe (ADBE) in January 1996 and was used by 30% of the web. Flash led the way to a more graphical inter-tubes while Microsoft and Netscape duked it out – in the Browser Wars. Thankfully HTML5 is here and we can say see ya! Flash.
The final release of Flash was made on December 8, 2021. On January 12, 2021, Adobe will officially pull the plug on Flash.Adobe will block Flash content from running in Flash Player. Adobe pre-announced the end of Flash as early as July 2017 and phased out support for it on December 31.
You may see an Adobe flash “you need to uninstall me” notification on your computer. In fact, your browser has been notifying that it will is blocking Flash. The (new) Edge Chrome and Firefox, by default block Flash.
So, what is the home user to do about Flash
Do nothing – If you are using a modern web browser – Adobe Flash is already blocked – what you did not notice?
Do nothing (Again) – Microsoft will be pushing out KB4577586 during an upcoming patch Tuesday. The update will remove “Adobe Flash Player that was installed by your version of Windows.” If you installed Adobe Flash Player manually from an:other source, it will not be removed.
Do it yourself (Adobe) – To completely remove Adobe Flash Player from your computer click “Uninstall” when prompted by Adobe in Flash Player.
Do it yourself (Microsoft) – Manually download KB4577586 from the catalog site by matching up the version you have.
Use the Adobe Flash uninstaller – If ever downloaded and installed Adobe Flash Player in IE, Firefox or other browser yourself. Download the Adobe Flash Uninstaller for Window from Adobe Follow the instructions there.
Be sure you manually delete any remaining files in the four folders listed in STEP # 3 of the Adobe instructions, including files in the hidden %appdata%\Adobe\Flash Player and %appdata%\Macromedia\Flash Player folders.
Verify Flash is gone – To see if Flash is gone – open the OLD IE and go to Adobe here. The Adobe testing site will let you know if flash is still installed.
So, what about enterprise users?
Enterprise users have options. If you have an internal business need for Flash support and commercial licensing, reach out to HARMAN for licensing, according to an Adobe announcement.
Microsoft also said that customers will still be able to run the software. Enterprise environments must use dedicated Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer plug-ins. Microsoft said.
To aid such customers, Microsoft Edge will allow Adobe Flash Player to load as a plug-in via the IE mode feature, … Once you make the switch from Microsoft provided Adobe Flash Player, it will be treated as any other third-party plug-in and will not receive Customer Support from Microsoft.
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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him at LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.