Firefox is blocking Flash by default

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    Firefox is blocking Flash by default


    Posted: 14 Jul 2015
    After a number of issues and exploits have been discovered recently, Mozilla has taken a big step and is now blocking Flash in all of its Firefox browsers.

    Flash, the much maligned and hated software on which a surprisingly big part of the web still relies, has often been criticized for its faulty security. More recently, unpatched vulnerabilities, which are being exploited in the wild, have transformed Adobe’s platform into an even bigger liability.

    But you’re a bit safer if you rely on Firefox, as Mozilla has put Flash on its blacklist of software and addons. The program is disabled by default and can only be enabled if the user clicks on a prompt that pops up. The reasoning here is that Flash needn’t be blocked completely, but it shouldn't be running without the user’s knowledge either.
    Read more: After Facebook called for its death, now Firefox is blocking Flash by default
    Brink's Avatar Posted By: Brink
    14 Jul 2015



  1. Posts : 4,049
    W7 Ultimate SP1, LM19.2 MATE, W10 Home 1703, W10 Pro 1703 VM, #All 64 bit
       #1

    Sounds like Mozilla are doing something sensible for a change. :)
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  2. Posts : 4,776
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       #2

    Blocking it by default is okay but how many users are going to active flash content anyway? The problem is that once activated flash will be allowed to run for any content on the whole webpage or even the whole domain (website)

    Personally I've always used this Firefox addon:

    https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/fir...y-per-element/

    Installation instruction regarding about:config and about:addons preferences configuration are detailed in the above link.

    What it does:

    Blocks flash content unless a user specifically activates it and then it's only activated for the chosen element.

    Opera: The version I use has the same functionality built in.

    Internet Explorer: I don't have the flash plugin installed.
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  3. Posts : 4,566
    Windows 10 Pro
       #3

    Or just set the option to click to play. Easier than installing an addon and less bloat.
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  4. Posts : 4,776
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       #4

    Click to play - Firefox


    andrew129260 said:
    Or just set the option to click to play. Easier than installing an addon and less bloat.
    @ andrew129260

    Hi Andrew,

    I've just tried your suggestion using FF v39 and set pluins.click_to_play to true in about config preferences and also set Flash to "Ask to activate"

    Now when I visit a page with multiple flash element including malicious flash advertising banners clicking on just one element activates flash for the entire web page. Would you please explain how to configure Firefox so that only the chosen flash element is activated?

    Let me know if you need more info.

    Many thanks.

    Page with muli]tiple flash elements:

    Firefox is blocking Flash by default-click-play-1.jpg

    Click one just one element and they all activate. That's a security risk and I want to only activate the element that's clicked on.

    Firefox is blocking Flash by default-click-play-2.jpg
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  5. Posts : 4,566
    Windows 10 Pro
       #5

    Hmmm.....wonder if they changed that in firefox.....Last time I used firefox was about 5 versions ago. That worked then I believe. Perhaps they changed it now. Or maybe my memory is faulty...

    I know with chrome when I set flash to click to play I right click on the one I want to run and click run and its only that area.

    Perhaps because of my addons I get that behavior? I can't talk about some of them here...
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  6. Posts : 4,776
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       #6

    Okay I understand the need not to mention some add ons. Actually I prefer to use Cyberfox or Opera 12 but do have Firefox Portable installed (latest version) just for testing. Thanks anyway!
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  7. Posts : 925
    Windows 10 Pro
       #7

    I suppose it's the best method.
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  8. Posts : 757
    Win10 Pro 64-bit
       #8

    Flash update 18.0.0.209 seems to have fixed the issues for me. Now all Flash content plays flawlessly in Firefox without requiring any additional steps. :)
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  9. Posts : 1,797
    Win 7 Ultimate, Win 8.1 Pro, Linux Mint 19 Cinnamon (All 64-Bit)
       #9

    I look forward to the day when flash has been completely killed. I'm very anti-facebook but even I have to agree with their security expert that Adobe really should set a date to kill it.
    I've always had mine set to "Click to play" in Chrome but still await the day I can remove it. Flash is unnecessary now.
    Java is another one I wish I could completely remove from my pc, but still have programs that use it.
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