Adobe Flash Player Update

[pipo1000]

2 days ago I received an update notification from flash player which I installed as usual.

A few minutes after I had installed my browser and actually my complete computer would freeze and I had to manually restart it with the reset button.

Again a few minutes later I got the same problem,and even a third time.At that point I decided to do a system restore,but mysteriously there were no restore points available,so I choose to remove adobe flashplayer through the program and features function.After the removal my system worked flawless untill tonight,when I could not view posted youtubes,so I went to the adobe site and reinstalled flashplayer.

A few minutes ago I got the bluescreen,which has never happened as long as I remember, and the system did a restart.

[Tywais]

A couple of things. One, is your video driver up to date? Another, sometimes you need to uninstall Flash with their uninstaller to clean the registry up correctly, then re-install the new version. Uninstall Flash. Another resort is to go back to a version that did work. Archived Flash.

[craigt3365]

I've been reading a lot about fake flash player updates. I'm now only doing it from the official Adobe website...ignoring any other notices. Seems it's a real problem now....

[WilliaminBKK]

They are driving me crazy as well, I keep ignoring them and look for the official one. I'll uninstall and keep my fingers crossed.

[MichaelJohn]

Are you using ESET NOD32 AnitVirus?

There is a know issues with this latest Flash Player update and older NOD (older than 4.2.5xx I think). Download the latest NOD and the problem goes away :-)

[pipo1000]

Are you using ESET NOD32 AnitVirus?

There is a know issues with this latest Flash Player update and older NOD (older than 4.2.5xx I think). Download the latest NOD and the problem goes away :-)

Thanks for the tip,as i indeed use Nod 4.2.58.3.I will look into it.

I followed Tywais advice and uninstalled using the adobe uninstaller and then reinstalled it right from the adobe website,but had to remove it again for the very same reasons stated in the OP.

[KRS1]

I deleted flash about 3 months ago, but thought i needed to watch some tutorials on the adobe website, because none of the videos would show.

So i downloaded it 3 days ago, and my computer is freezing up again. It happened three times today, so im about to delete it again.

Which brings me to another point, apart from 'cookies' there are also 'flash cookies' and the only way to delete them and disable it is by going to the macromedia website.

These cookies are much more powerful than regular cookies and are able to initiate scripts, i encourage everyone thats reading this to go to the macromedia website and check it out for themselves. You can only control the flash cookies at the macromedia website.

I bet 99% of the people on here did not even know flash cookies exist.

[Tywais]

I bet 99% of the people on here did not even know flash cookies exist.

Local Shared Object (LSO)

[KRS1]

I bet 99% of the people on here did not even know flash cookies exist.

Local Shared Object (LSO)

Flash cookies or Flash in general allows websites to control your microphone and camera to effectively see and hear what you are doing also

If some of you dont believe. google 'flash cookie' and go to the macromedia link and find the setting on the control panel.

Flash also allows people to use your bandwidth, or in other words upload files from your computer.

My built in laptop camera has been taped up since purchase, and good thing there is no built in microphone

Why Flash would even allow these actions is beyond me, and to me seems extremely sinister.

also - Google Chrome has flash built in, even if you delete Flash and are using Chrome, Flash will still be on your computer. But i take a chance and use it because I dont like the way Firefox renders webpages and IE always hangs on me.

[Guest]

Sorry for my ignorance, but does Windows have an central update place where upgraded softwares are tested and then offered to the end users?

[craigt3365]

I bet 99% of the people on here did not even know flash cookies exist.

Local Shared Object (LSO)

Unreal. I had over 100 cookies there! Changed the settings, obviously.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!

[ThaidDown]

As far as flash updates are concerned I always uninstall flash first and then install the latest version as per Thaiways post #2. Stops any possible update problems.

As per LSO s (flash cookies) if you are using Firefox the "Better Privacy" add-on, (Google it ,sorry cant post link) will automatically remove all flash cookies at the end of a session or allow you to keep any you wish to retain from trusted sites. Do not know if similar extensions are available for other browsers.

[Tywais]

As per LSO s (flash cookies) if you are using Firefox the "Better Privacy" add-on, (Google it ,sorry cant post link) will automatically remove all flash cookies at the end of a session or allow you to keep any you wish to retain from trusted sites.

Thanks for that information, very useful. Here's the link: BetterPrivacy

[BB1950]

Thanks KRS1, ThaidDown, and Tywais for the very useful information.

[KRS1]

Deleting the flash cookies is not enough.

You have to go to the control panel at the Macromedia website and deny permissions and set memory usage to '0'...as well as disabling P2P uplink, Its the last one on the right.

It probably seems weird too many, but the link (webpage) below changes settings on your computer. And there is nothing local about it, its a remote location.

here is the link to change your settings.

http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager09.html

[lopburi3]

Sorry for my ignorance, but does Windows have an central update place where upgraded softwares are tested and then offered to the end users?

Highly recommend Secunia Personal Software Inspector (PSI) (it's free) as they seem to have the first word on any updates and provide direct links to any that your computer is not set to automatically download. Windows itself has an update control panel for there OS and various programs and many of us (since Win7) let it automatically update most things.

[BB1950]

Deleting the flash cookies is not enough.

You have to go to the control panel at the Macromedia website and deny permissions and set memory usage to '0'...as well as disabling P2P uplink, Its the last one on the right.

It probably seems weird too many, but the link (webpage) below changes settings on your computer. And there is nothing local about it, its a remote location.

here is the link to change your settings.

http://www.macromedi..._manager09.html

This kind of bothers me. If these settings are controlled remotely without a local control, what stops others from gaining control remotely?

[Ernest63]

They are driving me crazy as well

[MichaelJohn]

The ESET NOD issue I reffered to is now on their Web page

http://kb.eset.com/esetkb/index?page=content&id=ALERT15

[KRS1]

I found this :

control panel > system & security > action center > view performance information > advanced tools = performance issues: "programs are interfering with windows entering sleep mode" > view details :

Name : Updates notifier application

Filename : AAM updates notifier.exe

Publisher : Adobe systems incorporated

It starts up in the background and i cant find where it is to disable it upon start up - i cant find the exe anywhere at all.

Any of you super users know where it is? So i can kill it ?

Adobe is proving to be quite the evil organization.

[pipo1000]

The ESET NOD issue I reffered to is now on their Web page

http://kb.eset.com/e...tent&id=ALERT15

I have upgraded to Nod32 antivirus 5 and reinstalled flash.No problems so far.

[Tywais]

Any of you super users know where it is? So i can kill it ?

Go here > C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\OOBE\PDApp\UWA and move "AAM Updates Notifier.exe" to a safe place in case you need it again later.

[KRS1]

Any of you super users know where it is? So i can kill it ?

Go here > C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\OOBE\PDApp\UWA and move "AAM Updates Notifier.exe" to a safe place in case you need it again later.

Thanks Tywais, i'll move it now and see what happens tomorrow morning when i boot up.

thanks gain.

[BB1950]

I found this :

control panel > system & security > action center > view performance information > advanced tools = performance issues: "programs are interfering with windows entering sleep mode" > view details :

Name : Updates notifier application

Filename : AAM updates notifier.exe

Publisher : Adobe systems incorporated

It starts up in the background and i cant find where it is to disable it upon start up - i cant find the exe anywhere at all.

Any of you super users know where it is? So i can kill it ?

Adobe is proving to be quite the evil organization.

There are 4 possible ways to disable it.

1. Go to http://www.macromedi...r05.html#118377
   Note: The Settings Manager that you see on the page is not an image; it is the actual Settings Manager.
   If you don't want Adobe to automatically notify you when a new version of Flash Player is available, deselect Notify Me When An Update Is Available.
   
2. Open Windows Control Panel (Start>Control Panel)
   Change the view to a non-Category view.
   Select the 'Flash Player' applet.
   Select the 'Advanced' tab.
   Select 'Never Check for updates'
   Note: On Windows 7 system these may be grayed out. Click 'Change Update Settings' to elevate the UAC to allow the system to make changes.
   Close the applet.
   
3. Click Start> Run.
   Enter "msconfig" (without the quotes)
   Click OK.
   Under the 'Startup' tab
   Disable the Updater application
   Click OK
   
4. Edit C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash\mms.cfg
   Change AutoUpdateDisable=0 to AutoUpdateDisable=1
   Note: On Windows 7 you will need to run your editor with 'Run as administator' privileges to elevate the UAC to allow you to make changes.
   Save the file.
   

[BB1950]

Note: It is not recommended to disable updates to Adobe Flash Player unless you periodically update it manually, as malware attacks are often targeted against vulnerabilities in the Flash Player.

[Tywais]

Another way to do it is just go to YouTube and start a video. Right click on the video and click on Global Settings then the Advanced Tab as below.

[BB1950]

Another way to do it is just go to YouTube and start a video. Right click on the video and click on Global Settings then the Advanced Tab as below.

Another 2 ways of doing it is to:

1. Click the Windows 'Start' button.
   Type "flash" into the search box (with the quotes)
   Select 'Flash Player' in the list under 'Control Panel'
   Go to the 'Advanced' tab as pictured in Tywais's post above.
   
2. Click Start>Run.
   Type "FlashPlayerApp.exe" (without the quotes)
   Click OK.
   Go to the 'Advanced' tab as pictured in Tywais's post above.
   

The only method that I'm not sure of working on Windows 7 platforms is by going to the Adobe web site. Because it does not modify the mms.cfg file due to Windows 7 security.

Again note: When using the 'Flash Player Settings Manger' on Windows 7 systems, the settings may be grayed out.To change the settings,. click the 'Change Update Settings' button to elevate the UAC to allow the system to make changes.

[KRS1]

Thanks guys, i relocated the AAM update notifier.exe file last night and checked on boot up this morning and it appears to not be loading on start up any more.

[BB1950]

Hopefully the Adobe Flash Player will become a thing of the past as more browsers incorporate Flash in their browsers (like Chrome) and/or web sites implement videos in HTML5 code.

Adobe has always been a pain in the butt!