Just Throwing This Out There About Flash Plugin

53kyle · Feb 7, 2013, 09:54 PM

Does it seem possible that apple blocked flash plugin as apple has done with java plugin a couple of times? I went into safari and it immediately said something about flash being out of date and that it was blocked. Sure enough youtube said "blocked plug-in." Then I clicked on the popup because I thought it was legit. Now I am afraid I just got myself a virus or something. Can someone reassure me that it was legit, not a virus?

GGJstudios · Feb 7, 2013, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 53kyle

Does it seem possible that apple blocked flash plugin as apple has done with java plugin a couple of times? I went into safari and it immediately said something about flash being out of date and that it was blocked. Sure enough youtube said "blocked plug-in." Then I clicked on the popup because I thought it was legit. Now I am afraid I just got myself a virus or something. Can someone reassure me that it was legit, not a virus?

There has never been a Mac OS X virus in the wild, and only a few trojans. Your problem has nothing to do with malware.

Mac Virus/Malware FAQ

I use Flash on Safari with ClickToFlash to control which content plays, and I have zero issues with it. Generally speaking, Flash is notorious for consuming system resources, raising temps and decreasing battery life. For Flash-related issues:

Find your Flash version and make sure it's the latest version available. Never install or update Flash from a pop-up on a website. Always go to Adobe's site to get Flash or updates.
Install ClickToFlash (Safari), Flashblock (Firefox) or FlashBlock (Chrome) to control which Flash content plays on websites.
Install ClickToPlugin (Safari) to prevent Safari from launching plug-ins automatically, resulting in faster browsing, reduced fan usage, and increased battery life. It can also replace many plug-in-based media players with Safari’s native HTML5 media player.
Try using the YouTube HTML5 Video Player to watch YouTube videos, when available. (May impact fullscreen viewing. See link for details.) Some have reported better performance with HTML5, while some have reported worse. Try it and find out what works best for you.

53kyle · Feb 7, 2013, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GGJstudios

There has never been a Mac OS X virus in the wild, and only a few trojans. Your problem has nothing to do with malware.

Mac Virus/Malware FAQ

I use Flash on Safari with ClickToFlash to control which content plays, and I have zero issues with it. Generally speaking, Flash is notorious for consuming system resources, raising temps and decreasing battery life. For Flash-related issues:

Find your Flash version and make sure it's the latest version available. Never install or update Flash from a pop-up on a website. Always go to Adobe's site to get Flash or updates.
Install ClickToFlash (Safari), Flashblock (Firefox) or FlashBlock (Chrome) to control which Flash content plays on websites.
Install ClickToPlugin (Safari) to prevent Safari from launching plug-ins automatically, resulting in faster browsing, reduced fan usage, and increased battery life. It can also replace many plug-in-based media players with Safari’s native HTML5 media player.
Try using the YouTube HTML5 Video Player to watch YouTube videos, when available. (May impact fullscreen viewing. See link for details.) Some have reported better performance with HTML5, while some have reported worse. Try it and find out what works best for you.

I actually remember a virus with a fake mac flash player installer, so I thought that it might be possible. Thanks for that though.

EDIT: That was probably a trojan.

GGJstudios · Feb 7, 2013, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 53kyle

I actually remember a virus with a fake mac flash player installer, so I thought that it might be possible. Thanks for that though.

It wasn't a virus. It was a trojan, that you had to install yourself. Read the FAQ I posted to learn the difference.

Mr. Retrofire · Feb 8, 2013, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 53kyle

Does it seem possible that apple blocked flash plugin as apple has done with java plugin a couple of times? I went into safari and it immediately said something about flash being out of date and that it was blocked.

Firefox does the same.

GGJstudios · Feb 8, 2013, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Retrofire

Firefox does the same.

Good to know it's not just Safari. If it's for the same reason, it's a security measure: Flash plugin is blocked?

vmachiel · Feb 8, 2013, 07:37 AM

Just make sure flash is updated to the latest version

benwiggy · Feb 8, 2013, 08:23 AM

Yes, there was a new version of Flash released today to counter a serious exploit.

MyNameIsDave · Feb 8, 2013, 08:26 AM

I had the same issue this morning.

If Apple blocked the Java plugin, it's entirely probable that they blocked the Flash plugin as well.

Krazy Bill · Feb 8, 2013, 08:28 AM

Flash just needs to die. I can't believe all the content still out there. Unfortunately it will be here for a while.

simsaladimbamba · Feb 8, 2013, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krazy Bill

Flash just needs to die. I can't believe all the content still out there. Unfortunately it will be here for a while.

It all hangs on the porn industry. Some offer their clips in a non-Flash format already, but the majority still offers its contents via Flash.

Once they successfully convert to non-Flash clips, the rest will follow.

MyNameIsDave · Feb 8, 2013, 08:32 AM

More info here:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=16811709

DJLC · 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Retrofire

Firefox does the same.

Not in my experience...

Blocked plugins (Java & Flash) are really starting to piss me off. I administer 200 MacBook Airs for a middle school that has them deployed in a one-to-one initiative. The kids take them home and obviously don't have admin rights. So these constantly blocked plugins have been my downfall. Sure, I can push out the updates via ARD with our Task Server, but that's not always 100%.

We've ended up telling the kids to use Firefox or Chrome. Those browsers don't care if Flash is out-of-date; Safari does. I wish we could just relax all this heightened security or get rid of all these pesky plugins. There's really not much to exploit in my case. Even if malicious software gets in there are no admin rights. >.<

TallGuyGT · Feb 8, 2013, 03:49 PM

I primarily use Safari, but have Chrome for sites that require Flash. I do not want Flash infecting my system (at least it's contained in Chrome).

I do most of my casual web surfing on iPad anyway. It's annoying that some sites provide HTML5 video on iPad, but require Flash on Mac or PC.

Yes, Flash needs to die.

Feb 7, 2013, 09:54 PM	#1
53kyle macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sebastopol, CA, USA	Just Throwing This Out There About Flash Plugin Does it seem possible that apple blocked flash plugin as apple has done with java plugin a couple of times? I went into safari and it immediately said something about flash being out of date and that it was blocked. Sure enough youtube said "blocked plug-in." Then I clicked on the popup because I thought it was legit. Now I am afraid I just got myself a virus or something. Can someone reassure me that it was legit, not a virus? __________________ I Wish Apple Would Stop Releasing Newness That I Want But Can't Afford
	0

Feb 8, 2013, 07:37 AM	#7
vmachiel macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Holland	Just make sure flash is updated to the latest version __________________ 2010 MBP, 2.4 GHz i5, 8 GB RAM, 240 GB SSD; 32GB iPhone 4S; 16 GB iPhone 3GS; 32 GB Wifi iPad (3rd gen)
	0

Feb 8, 2013, 08:28 AM	#10
Krazy Bill macrumors 68000 Join Date: Dec 2011	Flash just needs to die. I can't believe all the content still out there. Unfortunately it will be here for a while. __________________ We are the iBorg. All your OS X are belong to us.
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Feb 8, 2013, 08:23 AM	#8
benwiggy macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jun 2012	Yes, there was a new version of Flash released today to counter a serious exploit.
	0

Feb 8, 2013, 08:26 AM	#9
MyNameIsDave macrumors member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Blighty	I had the same issue this morning. If Apple blocked the Java plugin, it's entirely probable that they blocked the Flash plugin as well.
	0

Feb 8, 2013, 08:32 AM	#12
MyNameIsDave macrumors member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Blighty	More info here: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=16811709
	0

Feb 8, 2013, 03:49 PM	#14
TallGuyGT macrumors newbie Join Date: Aug 2011	I primarily use Safari, but have Chrome for sites that require Flash. I do not want Flash infecting my system (at least it's contained in Chrome). I do most of my casual web surfing on iPad anyway. It's annoying that some sites provide HTML5 video on iPad, but require Flash on Mac or PC. Yes, Flash needs to die.
	0


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