Flash Player?

[Brint Hannay]

What is the status of Flash Player vulnerability problems at this point?

Computer/Internet-related blogs all seem to say Flash Player is a hopeless case, fatally flawed and a major computer infection risk notwithstanding their attempts to patch it, no one should use it, it should vanish from the earth, etc.

In response to this I don't have Flash Player in my computer. But this means I not infrequently can't view videos in websites, because they either state F.P. is needed, or say "a plug-in" is needed (which I assume is F.P.).

What wisdom does anyone here have to offer on this?

[Wiz Feinberg]

My recommendation to anybody planning on keeping or adding Flash Player to their browsers is: "proceed at your own risk."

Notwithstanding this, it is possible to have Flash Player and still remain relatively safe online. Here's how.

1. Use Firefox and set it to automatically update;
2. Install the latest version of Flash that is specific to Firefox and set it to automatically update (via the Windows Flash Control Panel applet);
3. If Flash is already installed, check for a newer version at: http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/
4. Install the NoScript Add-on and learn to use it;
5. Install the AdBlock Plus Add-on and learn to use it;
6. Operate your computer as a limited or Standard user, not an Administrator;
7. Set a strong, unguessable password on the Administrator account;
8. Make sure that UAC prompts are set to either the top or second level of alerts;
9. Set Windows Updates at automatic;
10. Install Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit
11. Install a commercial anti-virus program that is maintained and has very frequent daily updates, and is compatible with your current operating system;
12. Make sure that DEP is active on the computer.

With these items in place, you should be able to safely use Adobe Flash Player.