Is Adobe Flash at risk from Malware and rootkits-Firefox

[Steven Tyler]

Questions to Freepers using Firefox browser. I understood Adobe was open to hacking, malware and rootkits I use a Firefox browser. I have not been updating my Flash plug-in. Now, I cannot view embedded videos without updating Adobe Flash.

Are substitutes available? Are the newer versions of Adobe Flash now secure??

[Steven Tyler]

Questions to Freepers using Firefox browser. I understood Adobe was open to hacking, malware and rootkits I use a Firefox browser. I have not been updating my Flash plug-in. Now, I cannot view embedded videos without updating Adobe Flash.

Are substitutes available? Are the newer versions of Adobe Flash now secure??

[Rio]

I think you can still view flash, but you have to click on the cleverly-disguised link where it says something like “click here to view.” but the word “here,” which is the trigger is not highlighted in any way.

[mountainlion]

I had some problems with adobe so I deleted it and reloaded but still had problems. I ran Malware bites, Avg 2013 free, Avira, Add Aware, all free form Downloads.com. There was another trojan remover that worked pretty good. They all missed some of the same stuff but finally one would pick up a viurs. I then reloaded adobe and it seems to work again. I try to run a different antiviurs program each day and not two days in a row. It works as good as buying protection.

[Sparticus]

You should always run the latest version of Flash as Adobe is constantly plugging security holes. That’s not to say that new versions of Flash are “secure”, but that the newer ones are “less insecure.”

[Bullish]

I’ve been using flash player for years on firefox. I make sure to keep both of them updated so they will be using the latest security. You should also be using the no-script add-on for firefox and a decent virus scanner. I have been very stable and virus free for a long, long time.

[CARTOUCHE]

I spent nearly 2 hrs last night with Geek Squad because I had lost my sound (unable to hear anything) and was unable to print anything. They found that malware was the issue, related to a false flash player update I had clicked on a week or so ago.

There has to be a better way. (Yes, I know, had I bought a Apple product, instead of this windows dependent HP Pavilion, I’d be better off.) Screw Apple ! Screw the malware developers ! And may the fleas of a thousand Saudi camels inhabit their Batman underwear.

[TomGuy]

Firefox and Adobe Flash have not been playing well together for a while.

I stopped upgrading FF at 15 which would work with old Flash 11.2.202.

FF and Flash had major conflicts. They get them to finally work and they come out with a new upgrade that messes things up.

==

If you update both FF and Flash, they might work, they might not.

Firefox’s rapid release sanity has ruined a good browser. Several good add-ons/extensions are no longer updated because the developers don’t have time to keep up with FF Rapid Release.

[fella]

After an Adobe download my Real Player quit recording and I haven’t been able to fix it.

[Abby4116]

I use flash but with google chrome. FF has become so slow with all the recent updates. IE is impossible. I run norton security suite on everything, ghostery too. Have not had any probliemvs virus-wise on either computer (windows7).

[null and void]

My whole ‘puter is dreadfully slow. I just assume it’s the “an essay” slowing things down.

[kaehurowing]

Firefox and the newer versions of Adobe are incompatible. Any webpage where Adobe is present will crash my computer if I am using Firefox as a browser. Since a lot of webpages now automatically start running advertising videos that use Adobe when you open, this has been pretty much fatal to my continued use of Firefox. This has been going on for a couple of months. I complained to FF, and I know many others have as well (just Google “Firefox & Adobe plugin crash” and you will get hundreds of hits). None of Firefox’s proposed “fixes” have worked on my computer. Nothing I have done with my computer will fix the Adobe problem so I switched to Google Chrome, which doesn’t seem to have the problem.

[JoeProBono]

For 64-bit Windows 7 - Waterfox - The fastest 64-bit variant of Firefox on the web

http://www.waterfoxproject.org/

[RobertClark]

Adobe products - all of them, reader, photoshop, flash... are inherently vulnerable and not secure. Not only that, they are resource hogs on any system. Earlier this year, we began sending attachments to DOD and EAS systems only using TIFs, as PDFs are far to vulnerable.

[Steely Tom]

You should always run the latest version of Flash as Adobe is constantly plugging security holes. That’s not to say that new versions of Flash are “secure”, but that the newer ones are “less insecure.”

OK, fine. But when I go to the Adobe site and try to download the latest release of Flash, after it begins to load, it informs me that it's loading the Google toolbar and Google chrome. I do not want either of these things!

Incredibly obnoxious.

[mrsmith]

YOU MUST SET YOUR SECURITY SETTINGS FOR FLASH!

http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager.html
It’s over on the left. Set them to the most secure.

[maine-iac7]

agree re FF

I liked FF but it wasn’t long after starting to use it that I had a plethora of problems - seems FF doens’ play well with others...

I finally scrapped it - and have had no problems for months -

I use ixqick as my main bowser (does not report your ISP to anyone) and free versions of AVG and SuperAnti Spyware - both do a great job...AVG is really on top of it in grabbing a virus in real time -

[maine-iac7]

it informs me that it's loading the Google toolbar and Google chrome. I do not want either of these things!

I believe - just before you hit 'download' there's a couple lines with option boxes at the bottom - you have to be diligent in catching this and UNchecking the boxes -

I will have nothing to do with Chrome or a Google toolbar, thank you

[Steely Tom]

I believe - just before you hit 'download' there's a couple lines with option boxes at the bottom - you have to be diligent in catching this and UNchecking the boxes -

I will have nothing to do with Chrome or a Google toolbar, thank you

Yes, exactly.

Not only do you have to be very observant to catch the radio buttons that let you decline Chrome and Google toolbar, you also have to decline to let Adobe automatically update your Flash player.

If you don't you will encounter another hard-to-spot "opportunity to decline" the installation of Chrome and Google toolbar that will pop up on you at Adobe's convenience. That very possibly will come when you are deep into some work-related activity on your computer, at a time that you very possibly will not want to be interrupted.

If you just quickly agree to everything to get the damn interruption off your screen... you will get your dose of "Chrome" and "Google toolbar."

[TheCipher]

If you update Flash, do it directly from Adobes site ( or if you have Chrome have it update automatically ). Never update it if you are on a site that has a Flash video and it says you need to update your Flash, so “click here”. That could potentially be a virus.

[maine-iac7]

If you just quickly agree to everything to get the damn interruption off your screen... you will get your dose of "Chrome" and "Google toolbar."

Exactly - I 'got' a dose of that once - Chrome took over my desktop, changed and locked up all my icons and otherwise roamed around my PC causing havoc. Had a hellva time getting rid of it... Once burned...