Debian recommendations re: free flash player plugins

[Longboard]

AS per Debian latest release:
http://www.debian.org/News/2008/20080217
-{ Quote: "Flashplugin-nonfree has been removed , as this is closed source and we don't get security support for it. For security reasons, we recommend to immediately remove any version of flashplugin-nonfree and any remaining files of the Adobe Flash Player. " }-

IS this a real risk to other distros as well?
What alternatives are there?
I haven't actually tried gnash.

?

[lucas1985]

-{ Quote: "I haven't actually tried gnash." }-
Works good with Flash 7 content.

[bktII]

@Longboard

I use firefox as my web browser in Arch Linux. It happens that this is the only distro where I have installed the flashplugin package (I also run Debian) as I rarely use it. I recall updating flashplugin recently and checked at Arch's website for the flashplugin package in the extra repository:

flashplugin (nonfree) v9.0.115.0-2 last updated:2008-02-07

Thus, it would appear that Arch is updating and I *assume* that the updates include security fixes.

[Alphalutra1]

Debian has kind of been on a crusade lately with free software and such, one example if the firefox and iceweasel incidents...

If you use debian, there still is gnash which will work for youtube (and it has a 64 bit version unlike flash) and there is also swfdec but I haven't really looked into that.

On arch what I am using right now on this laptop, I have v9 installed and they, like almost all the linux distros, aren't planning on dropping it.

Cheers,

Alphalutra1

[Longboard]

-{ Quote: "Debian has kind of been on a crusade lately with free software and such, one example if the firefox and iceweasel incidents.." }-Yes, I'm still way out on the fringes: respect their position but...
There have been issues with flash over the last 6 months but all the other distros seem to have dealt with them.
eg
http://www.novell.com/linux/security/advisories/2007_46_flashplayer.html
-{ Quote: "On arch what I am using right now on this laptop, I have v9 installed and they, like almost all the linux distros, aren't planning on dropping it." }-
:thumb:
Thx

- which if any package manager you using with Arch -?

[bktII]

Arch's package manager: pacman

info here: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Pacman

Command-line like apt-get and yum. I use the command-line without problems.

There are front-ends to pacman (like synaptic for apt-get and yumex for yum). Jacman, gtkPacman, ...

[Pedro]

-{ Quote: "Yes, I'm still way out on the fringes: respect their position but..." }-
It's a clear position, and nothing to argue about.
"Debian thinks the logos are not free because they are not free. Period."
http://glandium.org/blog/?p=97

I'm sticking with Debian thank you very much.. :)

[tlu]

-{ Quote: " I recall updating flashplugin recently and checked at Arch's website for the flashplugin package in the extra repository:

flashplugin (nonfree) v9.0.115.0-2 last updated:2008-02-07

Thus, it would appear that Arch is updating and I *assume* that the updates include security fixes." }-

The same applies to Ubuntu with last update on Feb. 7. Version is 9.0.48.0.2, though.