Any one who has used a computer for a few years now must have heard of Flash or Adobe Flash or Adobe Flash Player. In computing, all three can be used interchangeably. Flash has been around so millions of computer users must have come across it one way or another. If you happen to encounter Flash due to an error though, you’re in the right spot. Today, we bring you solutions on how to fix Flash errors. We also cover a bit how Flash can put your computer security at risk. We feel it is our duty to warn you of the vulnerabilities in using Flash so hopefully, you’ll get something out of this post.
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What is Adobe Flash?
Adobe Flash is a software originally developed by FutureWave but was later renamed as Macromedia Flash after Macromedia purchased it from FutureWave. Then, Adobe eventually purchased Macromedia which then renames the product to Adobe Flash. Flash became popular after the then starting up Youtube site began using it in 2005.
Basically, Adobe Flash is a browser plug-in that allows a user to play multimedia, rich Internet applications (animations), games, video and audio. It allows developers to write scripts relatively easily for any browser to run, making it a popular browser plug-in since then. In order for a browser to play Flash contents, an Adobe Flash Player must be installed first to it first.
In your Chromebook, you need to allow your Chrome browser to install Adobe Flash Player first in order to run Flash audio, video, or games.
Adobe Flash problems in Chrome
Over the years, a lot of users have encountered a variety of Flash-related errors and issues in Chrome. Below is a list of the most common Flash problems that we are aware of. This is not an exhaustive enumeration of Flash-related errors at all but only the ones that most people encounter.
- Webpage won’t open due to missing Flash player
- Site asks to download Flash
- The Adobe Flash Player is required for video playback. Get the latest Flash Player.
- The Adobe Plug-in has crashed.
- “This plug-in is not supported” error
- “The following plug-in has crashed…” error
- Adobe Flash has been blocked because it is out of date
- Couldn’t load plugin
- The following plugins were blocked on this page
- This plugin is not supported
- A plug-in (Shockwave Flash) isn’t responding
Webpage asking to enable Adobe Flash Player
Most Flash-related situations as of today occur due to browsers limiting support for Adobe Flash Player. Over the years, hackers have continually exploited the vulnerabilities of Flash to steal sensitive information from targeted machines so browser developers are wary. In fact, Google Chrome no longer turns on Flash by default. The same is true for other browsers like Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, etc. By 2020, Adobe will eventually stop supporting its own product.
The general rule is to enable Flash only on sites you trust. If you encounter a site asking you to enable Adobe Flash Player to play a content, make sure that you know that site does not host malware, or has a bad reputation. If you are positive that it’s totally safe and it’s asking you to download Flash, here’s what you need to do:
- To the left of the web address, click green Lock icon or Information.
- To the right of Flash, click the Arrows.
- Choose Always allow on this site.
- Reload the page.
Load a complete page with Flash content
If you’ve previously downloaded flash and a page you visit asks you to play Flash content, you can simply click on Click to enable Adobe Flash Player option, then confirm by clicking Allow. This will load the entire page so you can view the Flash content.
How to change Chrome default setting for Flash
In Google Chrome, the global default Flash setting is to ask for explicit permission whenever any site wants to play Flash content. You can change this setting if you want. We still recommend that you continue using this default global setting for your own security while allowing only your trusted sites to load Flash automatically in case to case basis.
To change the default Flash setting in Chrome, follow these steps:
- On your computer, open Chrome.
- At the top right, click More (three-dot icon) and then Settings.
- At the bottom, click Advanced.
- Under Privacy and security, click Content settings.
- Click Flash.
- At the top, turn the setting to Ask first (recommended).
How to keep Flash off all the time
If you are concerned about information security, always blocking Flash can be a good way thing to do. To always block Flash in Chrome, follow these steps:
- On your computer, open Chrome.
- At the top right, click More (three-dot icon) and then Settings.
- At the bottom, click Advanced.
- Under Privacy and security, click Content settings.
- Click Flash.
- At the top, turn the setting to Ask first (recommended).
Alternatively, you can block certain websites from running Flash by clicking on ADD below BLOCK section and entering it’s URL, like https://www.google.com. On the other hand, if you want to retain the global Flash setting to Ask first but the allow certain websites only, you can do so by clicking on ADD under the Allow section.
How to fix Adobe flash problems
Below are the general steps that you can try if you encounter any Flash problems:
Make sure to enable Flash Player
Again, you want to check first if the site you’re trying to access is safe. Only enable flash for sites you trust. Here’s how:
- On your computer, open Chrome.
- Open the site that asks you enable Flash.
- To the left of the web address, click green Lock icon or Information.
- To the right of Flash, click the Arrows.
- Choose Always allow on this site.
- Reload the page by pressing F5 in your keyboard or clicking on the Reload icon in your browser..
Make sure that Flash Player is up-to-date
Older software tend to fall exploits most of the time. To minimize security risks, make it a habit to regularly install updates for your Flash Player. To do that, follow these steps:
- On your computer, open Chrome.
- In the address bar at the top, enter chrome://components and press Enter.
- Look for Adobe Flash Player.
- Click Check for update.
- If you see “Component not updated” or “Component updated,” you’re on the latest version.
- Go back to the page with the Flash content. If it doesn’t open automatically, at the top left, click Reload icon.
Make sure that Google Chrome is updated
Just as any other program or software, Google Chrome must regularly be updated as well to prevent issues. Updating your Chrome browser is easy. Here’s how:
- On your computer, open Chrome.
- At the top right, click More (three-dot icon).
- Click Update Google Chrome. If you don’t see this button, you’re on the latest version.
- Click Relaunch.
Reinstall Flash
Should you continue to get a Flash error after doing the steps above, consider removing, then reinstalling Flash Player by doing these steps:
- On your computer, open Chrome.
- Go to adobe.com/go/chrome.
- Under “Step 1,” select your computer’s operating system.
- Under “Step 2,” choose the option that lists “PPAPI.”
- Click Download now, and follow the steps to install Flash.
Security concerns over Adobe Flash Player
As long you take basic browsing security measures such as installing updates regularly, visiting safe sites only, you’ll generally be okay. Flash security problems are only often found in malware-infested sites (porn sites, game sites, etc.) that uses Flash contents.
The very thing that makes Flash very popular — by allowing complex scripts to run off websites — is also its greatest weakness. Scripts that can run on Flash can be booby-trapped with malicious codes that collect personal information. This is because scripts written by Flash can access your computer’s memory. Once a website can access your computer’s memory, it can make changes in your machine without your knowledge.
Flash-based attacks occur regularly, in fact, in a day-to-day basis so Adobe and software makers like Microsoft are constantly in a game of cat and mouse with hackers. Flash security holes are discovered almost every day now so you’ll never know if your computer is safe or not when using it. The more complex a software gets, the more chances of security holes can occur. This is the main reason why popular browsers like Chrome don’t support Flash by default. The user must install and enable it.
Removing Adobe Flash Player is the way to go
For those who prioritize information security above anything else, removing Adobe Flash Player from their machine is really the only way to totally stop the chance of Flash-based vulnerabilities. However, at this time, removing Flash from your computer can seriously come at a price since a lot of websites are still using it. This may change in the next couple of years as official support from Adobe itself will stop but right now, you’ll be sacrificing convenience in favor of security. Flash will naturally meet its end of life in the coming years so websites are now slowly switching over to its better substitutes.
If you don’t trust yourself to be able to discern whether a site can be trusted or not, we say uninstalling Flash is a good choice. If you’re used to browsing sites and seeing contents like videos open in a few clicks, you’ll find that a Flashless system can be very annoying. For example, if you visit a website to see an important content like video that requires Flash, it can be a pain to find ways to access it.
However, if you think you can manage yourself and avoid the temptation of going to unsafe sites, you can leave Flash Player installed.
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