![]() |
MS-DEFCON 2:
Patch reliability is unclear. Unless you have an immediate, pressing need to install a specific patch, don't do it.
|
-
Bleeping computer reports Flash patch force installed
Home › Forums › AskWoody blog › Bleeping computer reports Flash patch force installed
Tagged: Adobe Flash Player, KB4577586, uninstall
- This topic has 35 replies, 14 voices, and was last updated 1 month, 2 weeks ago.
Viewing 23 reply threads-
AuthorPosts
-
-
February 17, 2021 at 10:56 am #2344295
Susan Bradley
ManagerSigh. https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-force-installs-windows-10-update-to-remove-flash-player/ Now hopefully by now Askwoody
[See the full post at: Bleeping computer reports Flash patch force installed]Susan Bradley Patch Lady
1 user thanked author for this post.
-
February 17, 2021 at 12:08 pm #2344304
anonymous
GuestI am on 20H2 Home version and I got this update this morning. I got the regular Defender definitions update and this one. But it did not install automatically. The definitions did (they always do), but the Flash removal update showed it was available to download. I did go ahead and click download and let it install. It did not ask for a reboot after installing.
-
February 17, 2021 at 12:30 pm #2344313
howardagoldberg
AskWoody PlusOn my 1909 system, when clicking ‘Check for Updates’ last night, it was downloaded and installed – no option given.
On my 20H2 system – last night, the ‘Flash’ settings app was still in the Control Panel (legacy), and check for updates showed nothing. Just now, checked for updates again, nothing. But went to the Control Panel, and the Flash settings app was gone. Going to ‘View History’ in WU, under ‘other updates,’ it shows the removal update (KB4577586) was installed today (sometime between 6:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.) – completely silently, and no reboot requested/required.
So … does not seem like an optional update. More so, on my 20H2 system, it installed without any user interaction whatsoever.
It’s good by me Flash is gone – but this is not the behavior MS describes as the update should follow. And of course, continues begging the question how much control over updates we really have regardless of our settings.
-
This reply was modified 1 month, 3 weeks ago by
howardagoldberg.
-
February 17, 2021 at 2:12 pm #2344343
-
February 17, 2021 at 2:18 pm #2344344
Susan Bradley
Manager-
February 17, 2021 at 2:53 pm #2344353
howardagoldberg
AskWoody PlusSusan,
Generally, I agree with you regarding ‘check for updates.’ In this case though, there should be an ‘optional updates’ section where this would fall.
And with my 20H2 machine, as I said, it was installed with zero user interaction. Any time I checked for updates, the update was not offered, and the result of the check was ‘up to date.’ The Flash removal KB was installed completely silently.
-
-
This reply was modified 1 month, 3 weeks ago by
-
February 17, 2021 at 12:37 pm #2344318
Alex5723
AskWoody Plushow much control over updates we really have regardless of our settings.
Just the amount Microsoft is willing to give, disregard, or take away.
Microsoft has full ‘front door’ into Windows OS. -
February 17, 2021 at 2:39 pm #2344351
jayinalaska
AskWoody Plus -
February 17, 2021 at 5:23 pm #2344383
redknight
AskWoody Plus-
February 19, 2021 at 8:56 pm #2344788
-
-
February 17, 2021 at 6:16 pm #2344391
-
February 17, 2021 at 8:04 pm #2344401
-
February 18, 2021 at 1:14 am #2344431
Pixie
AskWoody PlusI am on 2004 with WU deferred. If I resume click on resume updates to get this update that removes Flash, it will download and install all Febr updates. Is that is what being recommended NOW because of Flash? I recall several weeks ago reading we could remove Flash manually or wait until the update came out that would remove it automatically. I chose to wait for auto removal. Is there a risk waiting another week to update and remove Flash?
-
February 18, 2021 at 1:28 am #2344436
-
February 18, 2021 at 1:36 am #2344439
-
February 18, 2021 at 1:39 am #2344440
Alex5723
AskWoody PlusIs there a risk waiting another week to update and remove Flash?
There is no risk in waiting.
There are 2 Flash uninstall steps needed :
1. Adobe Flash browsers uninstall
2.Microsoft Flash browser (IE11/Edge) uninstall KB4577586. -
February 18, 2021 at 1:44 am #2344441
Alex5723
AskWoody PlusSo are you saying it’s safe to install Febr updates?
No.
KB4577586 is safe to install.You can wait until MS-DEFCON = 3/4.
You download and install KB4577586 manually.
You can hide all other Feb. updates apart from KB4577586 using WUmgr, WUmt..-
February 18, 2021 at 1:50 am #2344443
-
-
February 18, 2021 at 4:31 am #2344462
EP
AskWoody_MVPSigh. https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-force-installs-windows-10-update-to-remove-flash-player/ Now hopefully by now Askwoody
[See the full post at: Bleeping computer reports Flash patch force installed]ZDNet and a few others are also reporting about the force install of the Flash removal update:
ZDNet – Microsoft starts removing Flash from Windows devices via new KB4577586 update
GHacks.net – Microsoft is pushing out Flash-killer update KB4577586 via Windows Update
-
February 18, 2021 at 4:34 am #2344463
EP
AskWoody_MVPSusan,
Generally, I agree with you regarding ‘check for updates.’ In this case though, there should be an ‘optional updates’ section where this would fall.
And with my 20H2 machine, as I said, it was installed with zero user interaction. Any time I checked for updates, the update was not offered, and the result of the check was ‘up to date.’ The Flash removal KB was installed completely silently.
well KB4577586 is no longer an optional update as of mid-February 2021
MS didn’t update that support article to reflect that -
February 18, 2021 at 10:28 am #2344503
Tex265
AskWoody PlusOK, so I installed the KB update, the Control Panel icon is gone, and each browser shows Flash gone on the Adobe site, but I still have the Adobe and Macromedia folders with some sub-folders (most empty) under %appdata% Roaming folder.
So simply manually delete these 2 Main Folders with remaining content?
Windows 10 Pro x64 v20H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP) -
February 18, 2021 at 12:44 pm #2344524
Alex5723
AskWoody PlusSo simply manually delete these 2 Main Folders with remaining content?
I left the folders in place but deleted the files inside.
The KB update is just for removing Flash from IE11 and Edge.
In order to remove flash from other browsers you need to uninstall Flash with Adobe uninstaller.-
This reply was modified 1 month, 3 weeks ago by
Alex5723.
-
February 18, 2021 at 1:28 pm #2344538
Tex265
AskWoody PlusThe KB update is just for removing Flash from IE11 and Edge.
All I had was/is IE11, Latest Edge (chredge), and Firefox (which never had it). According to the Flash website none of the 3 have Flash but those (mostly empty) folders still remained after installing the KB.
Windows 10 Pro x64 v20H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)1 user thanked author for this post.
-
This reply was modified 1 month, 3 weeks ago by
-
February 18, 2021 at 1:38 pm #2344541
Alex5723
AskWoody Plusbut those (mostly empty) folders still remained after installing the KB.
Microsoft always fails with uninstalling software leaving Leftover files behind.
-
February 19, 2021 at 2:05 am #2344663
-
-
February 19, 2021 at 2:11 am #2344665
Alex5723
AskWoody PlusMS is not alone in this.
If the program creates files/folders/registry entries outside the installer, e.g. during use, the installer can’t know about these and therefore cannot remove them.cheers, Paul
3rd party uninstallers will search and remove orphaned folders, registry entries… if a small developer can do it, 166,475 Microsoft employees should too.
-
February 19, 2021 at 8:24 am #2344687
-
February 19, 2021 at 8:22 pm #2344774
anonymous
GuestI need my Flash player for my bank log in and other finical sites. how to stop this from being removed? I already had to spend time with my bank to unblock after 1/12/2021. The bank is planning to move to something else in 6 month or so. Other option is to install older version of a player on WIndows 7 or Xp or will it be removed as well on those OS?
-
February 19, 2021 at 8:22 pm #2344780
Susan Bradley
ManagerI’d be talking to your bank. They knew this was coming for years.
Susan Bradley Patch Lady
1 user thanked author for this post.
-
February 19, 2021 at 9:12 pm #2344793
Bob99
AskWoody PlusInstead of talking with your bank, I’d be looking for a new financial institution instead. As Susan said just above, they’ve known about this since Adobe put out the notice about discontinuing support for Flash back in 2017, nearly four years ago by now. That’s more than enough time for establishments that play such a central role in peoples’ lives to come up with an HTML5-based alternative to Flash content.
1 user thanked author for this post.
-
February 19, 2021 at 10:08 pm #2344805
-
-
February 20, 2021 at 6:24 pm #2344940
-
February 21, 2021 at 12:11 pm #2345090
EP
AskWoody_MVPapparently the “forced” KB4577586 flash removal update from WU (or auto updates) seems to occur only with Win10 versions 1809 (incl. LTSC 2019 which was offered the KB4577586 update during a recent WU search) and greater. KB4577586 is not offered thru WU if running Win10 versions 1803 or older. doing a recent WU check on an old Win10 LTSB 2016 (v1607) system did not offer the KB4577586 update for that version.
-
This reply was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by
EP.
-
This reply was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by
-
February 24, 2021 at 12:34 pm #2346050
opti1
AskWoody PlusI’m doing initial set up prep on a Win10 1909 PC that has not yet been connected online.
I ran the Adobe uninstall which removed Flash from the list of apps. When I try to manually delete all the additional files from the four folders Adobe says to remove from I get the ‘You need permissions from the TrustedInstaller to delete these files’ message.
I’ve found a couple of articles that show how to change permissions on the files\folders so that I can delete them. But I’m wondering, should I just wait and let KB4577586 clean things up and do it for me?
Also, I assume this deleting of files in the four folders listed by Adobe needs to be done in the Admin account as well as my standard user account. Is that correct?
Thanks!
-
February 25, 2021 at 12:29 am #2346220
-
-
-
AuthorPosts
Viewing 23 reply threads -
Welcome to our unique respite from the madness.
It's easy to post questions about Windows 10, Win8.1, Win7, Surface, Office, or browse through our Forums. Post anonymously or register for greater privileges. Keep it civil, please: Decorous Lounge rules strictly enforced. Questions? Contact Customer Support.

Plus Membership
Donations from Plus members keep this site going. You can identify the people who support AskWoody by the Plus badge on their avatars.
AskWoody Plus members not only get access to all of the contents of this site -- including Susan Bradley's frequently updated Patch Watch listing -- they also receive weekly AskWoody Plus Newsletters (formerly Windows Secrets Newsletter) and AskWoody Plus Alerts, emails when there are important breaking developments. Click here for details and to sign up.
Search Newsletters
Search Forums
Recent Replies
John782 on New smartphone? Great! Now don’t charge it past 80%
52 minutes agocastiel on The ides of March
1 hour, 2 minutes agoholsh on DuckDuckGo updates its plugin to block Google’s creepy FLoC
1 hour, 3 minutes agodhdoyle on Tasks for the weekend – April 10, 2021 – change your Office
1 hour, 18 minutes agoanonymous on Upgrade Firefox…recommendations please.
1 hour, 23 minutes agocastiel on The ides of March
1 hour, 25 minutes agorebop2020 on MS-DEFCON 2 – Deferring the April Updates
1 hour, 39 minutes agoMoonshine on How can I locate Bitlocker key in OEM refurb HP laptop?
1 hour, 46 minutes agoSB9K on DuckDuckGo updates its plugin to block Google’s creepy FLoC
1 hour, 46 minutes agofirstmerk on USB 3.0 slows down by a factor of 10x when not used
2 hours, 30 minutes agofirstmerk on USB 3.0 slows down by a factor of 10x when not used
2 hours, 33 minutes agojd45123 on New smartphone? Great! Now don’t charge it past 80%
2 hours, 34 minutes agoanonymous on Why KB2999226 installed today?
2 hours, 51 minutes agoSB9K on DuckDuckGo updates its plugin to block Google’s creepy FLoC
3 hours, 5 minutes agoanonymous on Are you a Consultant or IT Pro?
3 hours, 7 minutes agoanonymous on USB 3.0 slows down by a factor of 10x when not used
3 hours, 42 minutes agoanonymous on The ides of March
3 hours, 44 minutes agoanonymous on The ides of March
3 hours, 44 minutes agojoep517 on Two links the get to Outlook online?
4 hours, 3 minutes agojoep517 on 20H2 and NVMe SSDs
4 hours, 15 minutes agoAscaris on New smartphone? Great! Now don’t charge it past 80%
4 hours, 42 minutes agoJohn Harley on MS-DEFCON 2 – Deferring the April Updates
4 hours, 44 minutes agosteeviebops on How much RAM does your computer have?
5 hours, 8 minutes agodoriel on How much RAM does your computer have?
5 hours, 50 minutes agodoriel on New smartphone? Great! Now don’t charge it past 80%
6 hours, 3 minutes agoSave_Us_from_MS on New smartphone? Great! Now don’t charge it past 80%
6 hours, 32 minutes agoSave_Us_from_MS on New smartphone? Great! Now don’t charge it past 80%
6 hours, 34 minutes agoSave_Us_from_MS on New smartphone? Great! Now don’t charge it past 80%
6 hours, 39 minutes agoTonyC on How to acquire a copy of Win10 2004 on a USB flash drive
8 hours, 7 minutes agoMicrofix on Upgrade Firefox…recommendations please.
8 hours, 7 minutes ago
Recent Topics
-
Microsoft Account linking to X-Box ID
2 hours, 40 minutes ago
-
iOS : FCC Speed Test
8 hours, 44 minutes ago
-
Power crash when updating
12 hours, 1 minute ago
-
USB 3.0 slows down by a factor of 10x when not used
2 hours, 30 minutes ago
-
Upgrade Firefox…recommendations please.
1 hour, 23 minutes ago
-
Two links the get to Outlook online?
4 hours, 3 minutes ago
-
Am I FLoCed? A New Site to Test Google’s Invasive Experiment
20 hours, 47 minutes ago
-
20H2 and NVMe SSDs
4 hours, 15 minutes ago
-
Why KB2999226 installed today?
2 hours, 51 minutes ago
-
Error 4605 Command is not available
1 day ago
-
legitimate interest
1 day, 7 hours ago
-
How to customize and manage your Microsoft Account
15 hours, 20 minutes ago
-
New smartphone? Great! Now don’t charge it past 80%
52 minutes ago
-
Check or change Win10’s file-sharing encryption level
1 day, 10 hours ago
-
Freeware Spotlight — Killer
1 day, 10 hours ago
-
Known Issue Rollback
14 hours, 42 minutes ago
-
Dism RestoreHealth shows two “Versions” and Q re 20H2 “Experience”
1 day, 20 hours ago
-
Firefox SSD capacity usage ?
22 hours, 32 minutes ago
-
Android : New Wormable Malware Spreads by Creating WhatsApp Auto-Replies
2 days, 1 hour ago
-
KB4092436 – can neither install it or hide it
2 days ago
-
MS-DEFCON 2 – Deferring the April Updates
1 hour, 39 minutes ago
-
Tasks for the weekend – April 10, 2021 – change your Office
1 hour, 18 minutes ago
-
Grandma, what big updates you have!
2 days, 10 hours ago
-
Mapping a drive
9 hours, 15 minutes ago
-
vssvc?
1 day, 8 hours ago
-
Inside tech support scams
1 day, 20 hours ago
-
Hackers hacked Swarmshop stolen credit cards database
3 days, 8 hours ago
-
DuckDuckGo updates its plugin to block Google’s creepy FLoC
1 hour, 3 minutes ago
-
Initial Apple M1 SoC Support Aims For Linux 5.13 Kernel
3 days, 7 hours ago
-
How much RAM does your computer have?
5 hours, 8 minutes ago
Search for Topics
Recent blog posts
- How to customize and manage your Microsoft Account
- New smartphone? Great! Now don’t charge it past 80%
- Check or change Win10’s file-sharing encryption level
- Freeware Spotlight — Killer
- Known Issue Rollback
- MS-DEFCON 2 – Deferring the April Updates
- Tasks for the weekend – April 10, 2021 – change your Office
- Inside tech support scams
Key Links
Copyright © 2004 – 2021 AskWoody Tech LLC. All rights reserved.