Goodbye Adobe Flash

Discussion in 'other security issues & news' started by Securon, Jul 16, 2015.

  1. Securon

    Securon Registered Member

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    Good Morning! Am thinking of ridding myself of Adobe...due to security reasons. Anybody else of the same mind set? Would you also eliminate Adobe Reader ? All your feedback...would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely...Securon
     
  2. RJK3

    RJK3 Registered Member

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    Since you're asking for feedback, mine is that there's altogether too much hysteria and HTML5-fanboyism regarding Adobe Flash.

    1/ What is more efficient on your machine for things you do?
    2/ What mitigations do you have in place?

    Personally I still find that Adobe Flash is far more efficient than HTML5 for online video, so there's little reason for me to switch to HTML5 like a sheep. When HTML5 performs better than Flash, then logically I'll consider it. I think anyone expecting HTML5 to be a panacea will be sorely disappointed in years to come.

    The most effective mitigation I use for the Adobe Flash web plugin is "Ask to Activate". I also have MBAE (zero challenges), uBlock, a Software Policy (zero challenges), and NoScript. FWIW MBAE blocks the known exploits for Adobe Flash.
     
  3. RJK3

    RJK3 Registered Member

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    Re: Adobe Reader, I choose to use SumatraPDF instead. It performs better IMO, and is more secure. It's faster, simpler, smaller, and has no services or scheduled tasks. Secondly, it doesn't execute scripts so is inherently more secure. I prefer to download PDFs instead of viewing them within the browser, and Pale Moon browser follows the same path (disables the built-in PDF reader).

    If I need to edit a document, I use an older version of PDFXchange (from before they nerfed that feature).
     
  4. elapsed

    elapsed Registered Member

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    The best approach for Flash player right now is click-to-play. We will be rid of it soon, but not yet.
     
  5. Daveski17

    Daveski17 Registered Member

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    Sumatra rocks!
     
  6. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

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    I disabled it in IE and Chrome. So far I've noticed no problem. If I ever get problems in Chrome, I will set it to click to play.
     
  7. ghodgson

    ghodgson Registered Member

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    I have Flash 'Ask to activate' in Palemoon without any issues. I uninstalled Adobe reader a long time ago, I now use STDU viewer which works fine.
     
  8. haakon

    haakon Guest

    What? And put all the anti-exploit developers out of business? :D

    I joined the Trash the Flash movement almost two years ago and at the time HTML5 was not as ubiquitous as it is now. There were some times I had to use my Android tablet to view something, but these days, if there is content presented in Flash only (which is rare), the provider is lazy, stupid or doesn't care so I don't want what they got. Conversely, if there are users who rely on Flash for some Internet activity, why the H are you putting up with that lazy, stupid, careless provider?

    My divorce from Adobe Reader (and Java) goes back about seven years. I have the browser config'd to launch and render PDF content in SumatraPDF. For serious reading, I open a PDF in PDF-XChange. (Each has a custom shield in MBAE-P.) A Trash PDF movement is not yet a reality.

    Given that I'm not in the career of needing Adobe products for income, Adobe apps are not permitted within 1000 meters of any system I own or maintain.
     
  9. haakon

    haakon Guest

    I suffered no inefficiencies or performance issues with HTML5; 1080 HD rocks. That would be directly related to my browser, killer CPU and GPU, quality mid-range broadband and premium LAN hardware. (The Fates, and hard work, have favored me in that respect.) CAT6 from the NIC to the switch helps, too.

    That said, I can't dismiss those who require Flash for their set ups.

    I no longer need to face San Jose to prostrate and sing praises to Adobe.
     
  10. TairikuOkami

    TairikuOkami Registered Member

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    Well put, I am not gonna buy a new laptop, just so I could watch videos in HTML5. Disable HTML5 on youtube is my most favorite extension.
    Flash uses hardware acceleration much more effectively than HTML5, so obviously the overall CPU/GPU usage is lower on flash, for now. :thumb:
     
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2015
  11. Phil McCrevis

    Phil McCrevis Registered Member

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  12. Joxx

    Joxx Registered Member

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    I tried to go without Flash but the pron sites that keep popping among my searches (can't understand why) will often demand Adobe's offspring.
    And I admit to be curious about all the Internet educational elements.
     
  13. The Red Moon

    The Red Moon Registered Member

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    If we rid ourselves of adobe flash at this precise moment in time then what alternatives are there.?
    Can HTML5 for example allow us to play online games etc.

    I think until most websites are fully compliant with html5 then dumping flash is a bad idea.
     
  14. elapsed

    elapsed Registered Member

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    Actually that's incorrect. It sound like your system has GPU issues, possibly due to an old driver. If flash is smoother for you it's because it relies on CPU usage more than it does GPU usage.
     
  15. TonyW

    TonyW Registered Member

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    There's no reason to stop using it providing you have the necessary mitigations in place to prevent the vulnerabilities exploited in unpatched versions. Alternatively, you can just run Flash when you need/want to. In other words, set it to ask you every time.

    If you take your line of thinking further, you may as well say stop using Windows due to security reasons. After all, Microsoft has been continually patching it on a monthly basis. We don't stop using Windows*, of course, but find ways to lessen the chance of getting hit by attacks that use the weak spots in between updates.

    *Unless one moves to Mac or Linux
     
  16. Amanda

    Amanda Registered Member

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    I'm amased that people still use Flash these days. It's probably the worse security whole in a system, not to mention it should be flagged as MALWARE. The only reason most AV's don't flag it as so it's because many people still use it and think they deppend on it. So sad.
     
  17. ronjor

    ronjor Global Moderator

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  18. ronjor

    ronjor Global Moderator

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    http://www.tripwire.com/state-of-se...flash-outfitted-with-new-exploit-mitigations/
     
  19. deBoetie

    deBoetie Registered Member

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    Kicked Flash off my main desktop 3 years ago. Never looked back - films aren't that important to me.

    In any case, you may want to consider running them in a Virtual machine which is snapshottable. You watch, shut down and revert. Or use various sandboxing techniques. This even works for my family(!).
     
  20. Snoop3

    Snoop3 Registered Member

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    yep, one of the first things i do on any new or refurb computer i get is uninstall the bloated Adobe Reader.
     
  21. Dermot7

    Dermot7 Registered Member

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  22. Hadron

    Hadron Registered Member

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    We had a security update at work yesterday.
    The update removed Adobe Flash from all our computers.
     
  23. Robin A.

    Robin A. Registered Member

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    I agree.
     
  24. Amanda

    Amanda Registered Member

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  25. TairikuOkami

    TairikuOkami Registered Member

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    Not just mine, there are hundreds of posts on internet with the same result. It might change over time, but for now flash is superior in every way.
     
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