Adobe Reader and Flash Player updates, and Avira vs Win8

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This just in from EP -Another round of monthly security updates for Adobe Reader and Adobe Flash Player have been posted this May.Adobe security bulle
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If you use Google Chrome and/or IE 10, Adobe Flash Player is updated automatically together with Google’s pepflash player in normal Chrome updates.

iPhone 13, 2019 iMac(SSD)

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As usual, IE 10 gets its Flash Player Update from MS Updates, so you have to run the Updates, then select only the Flash Player Update for IE 10 if offered.

Chrome just does its own updates. We’re up to Chrome 26, for those who may have fallen behind.

Firefox and IE earlier than 10 will need to get their Flash Player updates from Adobe.

While we’re at it, running the May 2013 MSRT and installing the Active-X Killbits would also seem prudent and safe now. I did these while updating Flash Player for IE 10 in Win 8 Pro with no difficulties in Windows or third-party programs or apps.

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So Woody do we install these Adobe patches for Flash Player and Reader be installed. I have XP, Win7 and Win8 and I am being asked everyday on Win8 to update. And my XP useer says he gets message a couple times a week about Flash Player to update. What do you think? Thank you Dianne

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@Dianne –

Yes, you should always install all the updates for Flash Player and Reader as soon as they’re available.

If you can turn off Flash, and install one of the Reader alternatives (e.g., Foxit Reader), that’s even better.

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Woody, I think you mean, turn off Adobe Reader. Turning off Flash would make most web sites unusable.

BTW, on Windows 7, IE 10 does seem to still require updating the Adobe Flash Player Active-X. Just found this out a day or two ago.

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@RC –

I try to run without Flash and am generally successful. Generally.

I didn’t realize that IE10 on Win7 requires separate patching of Flash. Weird.

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Hi Woody,
I installed the latest updates from adobe.com.
Now everytime i go to my regularly visited websites I’m asked to install the flash player again and again,but there is another weird issue from a dialog box on the screen, when I click the X on the dialog box the whole page closes. Now, I have a fasebook page, I post comments from news articles from huffington post and other major news papers,sites. Now when i go to these sites internet exporer 8 rejects the site with a message that it closed the site due to unsafe software,DEP and a few others.There are times when i get redirected to some site that wants me to download a free game to play. This only happens to the sites that have news articles the rest of the time i can surf any other website without any problems. Antivirus shows no problems.

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All I know is, there was no IE 10 patch (last I looked) for Flash Player in Win 7, but there was one in Win 8 Pro. That is weird.

How you run any modern web site which displays videos or clips without Flash, I can’t imagine. It’s everywhere these days.

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Woody and commenters,
I can’t decide if I should install Adobe Flash player on my Surface Pro tablet. Is it safe?

Woody, I know you are a chrome fan and google apps fan. I don’t know where to put these questions, so here goes:
All about Google, to which I can’t find answers
elsewhere.
1. For Surface Pro tablet: I have Firefox with google search as my homepage on desktop. I also took Google Touch tile/app when I couldn’t find anything negative about it. (I recall seeing but can’t find it again, that Microsoft was impuning the safety of Google and the fear was debunked.

2. Apps are limited on Surface Pro. The IMDb app only gives a few ratings of movies (and it’s newly available).
I want to see movies on my Surface Pro via IMDb and ask:
If I get Chrome on Surface Pro, would I be able to get the something that needs Android (Google) OS? The more I read, the more confusing it gets. I don’t mind showing my stupidity. You have never made fun of me/us.

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@Sanda –

Flash won’t install on a Windows 8 machine. It comes pre-installed.

There’s no question that Google keeps track of what you do online (as long as you aren’t in incognito mode), but I don’t think it’s any worse than Microsoft.

Ifn you want all of IMDB, just start your browser and go to the site.

Nope, Android apps only run on Android computers (tablets and phones). Google makes lots of apps for Windows – including, notably Chrome – but Android apps are a whole different ballgame.

It’s confusing. Trust me.

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@Diane –

It sure sounds like an infection. If you don’t have Microsoft Security Essentials, download and install it, and see what it says.

If you have Windows 7, you can upgrade to Internet Explorer 9, free.

Regardless of which version of Windows you use, get Firefox or Chrome, and use either or both. I bet the problems go away.

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@Diane Z —

When there’s a new Flash Player installed, some web sites take a little while to get up to speed, and Flash content at those sites will fail to load and the site will demand a Flash “update” (actually the previous version). But the other warnings, including DEP, indicate something malicious.

If Microsoft Security Essentials doesn’t show something wrong, try Malwarebytes Free in Windows Safe Mode.

@Sanda —

According to CNet’s Download.com site:

“IMDB Touch” for Windows 8 is an App which can be used with multitouch, and gives the same info about movies and showtimes, with full Windows integration (pinning, searching, etc.). It also gives access to info about TV shows.

Softpedia says the App works on all Win 8 builds including RT, and this is a Metro App (download from the Microsoft Store).

“IMDB Touch” doesn’t allow you to watch movies or TV shows on your tablet. For that you would need a “TV Anywhere” type of App from your Cable provider. Installing and using such Apps is not necessarily free.

Even the IMDB website on the Windows Desktop isn’t supposed to allow you to watch movies or TV shows for free on a computer or tablet. There are copyright issues about that sort of thing.

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@Sanda —

I stand corrected. Recently, IMDB did get permission to offer “classic” movies (with older, less restrictive copyrights) for viewing at their site. Apple and Android Apps have been developed, but for Windows 8, it’s Desktop only.

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Woody,
Thanks. I have Flash installed on the Surface Pro for IE. When I was using google yesterday, on the Surface Pro (Windows 8) and Firefox google search to YouTube, the Surface Pro insisted that if I didn’t go via IE, I had to install another Flash on the Firefox home page on the Desktop – and I did. Annoying.
And yes, it’s all confusing as I bumble along, but having fun. Entertained my husband with it yesterday. The whole area of earphones for the Surface Pro is a CNET adventure (via the CNET app). Totally tech-less, I read the tech sites often and seem to absorb a bit. The size of the type is a problem for me, as I figure out which
parts enlarge via which apps. But, as some
techie said, different computers are good for different things. I use my Acer laptop Window7, still, as homebase for internet searches and comments on here (although I read you on both machines)- still studying both your books on Win 7 and 8….

Finally, the territoriality of google/Android vs Microsoft (newly into hardware)(I know some of its history in re software) vs Mac/Apple and only being able to play certain things on certain machines reminds me of natinal boundaries. All in the name of profit, they hope.

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@rc primak: thanks.

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