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Welcome to Techsurvivors => Tech => Topic started by: Xairbusdriver on December 20, 2019, 08:58:44 PM

Title: Are you still using Adobe Flash Player?
Post by: Xairbusdriver on December 20, 2019, 08:58:44 PM
You may get an email encouraging you to apply a security update ("A Security Bulletin (APSB19-46"). I am always suspicious of anything to do with Flash. While the email seems legit, I instead of using its links, I went to Adobe's support/security bulletin pages (https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsb19-46.html) and then searched for "APSB19-46". On the pages offered is one that will display your current version (https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/about/) of Flash Player. Mine is 32.0.0.303.

Security Bulletin APSB19-46 was issued back in September. The first link above, describing Player versions to which it applies are earlier than the one I have. I declined to apply the update. I encourage you to simply use the Adobe links above rather than any on any email claiming to be from Adobe. Same recommendation we repeat: Never, Ever click any link in any email unless absolutely, positively sure where it leads and who sent it. It is always safer to go directly to the Developer's site (which you should have bookmarked, anyway :Thinking:)(that url can easily be included in the info you store for your third-party apps in any good password manager, which should have an entire section devoted to applications, anyway :whistling:).
Title: Re: Are you still using Adobe Flash Player?
Post by: jchuzi on December 21, 2019, 04:54:48 AM
You can check on your current version of Flash Player in a simpler way: Launch System Preferences and click the Flash Player preference pane. Select Updates and not only will it tell you the installed version, but you can have it check for updates (it communicates with Adobe servers).

Now, you can claim to be a bona fide Flasher!  :Devilish:
Title: Re: Are you still using Adobe Flash Player?
Post by: Paddy on December 21, 2019, 09:43:50 AM
FYI - there is no update available for version 32.0.0.303; it is the most recent one available. (not sure why you would have been offered an update, Jim!)

There are very few sites that still use Flash - it's going the way of the dodo. Not soon enough.:p
Title: Re: Are you still using Adobe Flash Player?
Post by: Xairbusdriver on December 21, 2019, 12:54:04 PM
Thanks, jon, I was just being inquisitive.

Quote from: Paddy
not sure why you would have been offered an update
I assume that Adobe's email servers are just a bit slow. Kind of surprised that they even have 'people' or scripts making these notifications. Or perhaps I've been able to block their cookies well enough that they could not determine that I was up-to-date. :coolio: :thumbup: Either way, I just don't react kindly to email messages offering to "help". :coolio: Even paranoid people have enemies! :rofl:
Title: Re: Are you still using Adobe Flash Player?
Post by: kimmer on December 21, 2019, 12:54:38 PM
Don't know when I last visited a site that required Flash?  :dntknw:   Not even installed on my iMac.
Title: Re: Are you still using Adobe Flash Player?
Post by: Xairbusdriver on December 21, 2019, 12:59:19 PM
I still find sites that will have "Click to allow Flash Player" buttons where there will be a "video". I rarely click them as they are often just ads.
Title: Re: Are you still using Adobe Flash Player?
Post by: Xairbusdriver on January 03, 2020, 02:01:54 PM
Got another Flash Player Security update notice from "Adobe". This one has a link to adobesystems.gq. I'd never heard of ".gq" but it turns out to be the ICANN country code for Equatorial Guinea (not to be confused with: Guinea [.gn], Guinea-Bissau [.gw] and Papau New Guinea [.pg]). Perhaps Adobe has "out sourced" Flash 'development'?! :doh: :laughhard:

URL's are easy to see in any email! Check them or be square (or SPAMmed)! Using a link in an email is like using a match to check the level of gas in your tank!! :coolio: :nono: :eek: :blink: