Adobe's Flash: A Security Risk? Hackers find their way in

[onehandle]

Source: NBC

As if things couldn't get any worse for Adobe's Flash, the still-popular player has been hit with a security flaw that reportedly let hackers get into your computer.

While many of us were up late watching election results trickle in, Adobe engineers were burning the midnight oil trying to patch the leak. If you didn't hear about this, you're not alone.

While not a huge problem, it's not convenient for Adobe, which has been battling Apple over the whole Flash issue since the iPad famously came out without Flash.

It actually got to the point where the National Cyber Alert System published a warning about the vulnerability in Flash, along with Adobe's Acrobat, and Reader. "A remote attacker," the warning reads, "could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code." Not the stuff of nationwide panic, but enough for Adobe to get to work on a patch.

Read more: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/Adobes-Flash-A-Security-Risk-95978829.html

[no limit]

1. Flash and Acrobat have huge security issues every other week.

But what I hate is that they try to use this as an excuse for why flash won't be on apple products. Security had nothing to do with that decision, a lot of other factors did including that apple wanted to keep tight control on their app distribution.

[onehandle]

3. Flash is not part of the iOS (iPhones/iPads) because it is a battery killer.

Flash is in OS X (Macs). I block Flash in my browsers for the same reason I block ads. They both bog down and crapify my web experience.

[no limit]

7. They could allow you to disable flash if you wish, as the android does. That's not why apple did it

Flash competes with their distribution model, and they didn't like that.

[REP]

11. Wrong

It was excluded because it is very, very unstable.

[no limit]

12. Wrong

Google has proven it can be perfectly stable on mobile devices. And as I just said which you totally ignored. Flash would be totally optional as it is on the android. Meaning Apple has other reasons for blocking it. And you can be naive and pretend you don't know what those reasons are.

[notesdev]

2. Not just a risk

Adobe Flash + PDF = vehicle for 80% of the malware currently out on the Internet.

If someone sued them in a class action I bet they would be put out of business by the damages.

[LAGC]

4. That's why I use FoxIt reader instead of Acrobat. (n/t)

[no limit]

8. Those pesky terms you agree to before installing their software prevent lawsuits

[FloridaJudy]

5. I effin' HATE Flash!

99% of my browser/computer crashes are caused by an Adobe product. Unfortunately, some of my favorite websites insist on using either Flash or Acrobat. Since I don't have cable, I watch a lot of TV and movies on line. The little frowny "Oops!" icon is my constant companion.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

10. yes!

[Snarkoleptic]

6. There are also vulnerabilities in adobe reader 6.0.

You can download the new "safe" version on the adobe website.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

9. Get rid of them if you can