Support for Adobe Flash Ending in Three Years

Today, Adobe announced on its blog that it intends to sunset flash in favor of newer technologies like HTML5, WebGL, and WebAssembly. The plan is to drop support by 2020 officially. Microsoft also contributed details on its plans to remove support for Flash from Windows by 2020.

Through the end of 2017 and into 2018, Microsoft Edge will continue to ask users for permission to run Flash on most sites the first time the site is visited, and will remember the user’s preference on subsequent visits. Internet Explorer will continue to allow Flash with no special permissions required during this time. In mid to late 2018, we will update Microsoft Edge to require permission for Flash to be run each session. Internet Explorer will continue to allow Flash for all sites in 2018. In mid to late 2019, we will disable Flash by default in both Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer. Users will be able to re-enable Flash in both browsers. When re-enabled, Microsoft Edge will continue to require approval for Flash on a site-by-site basis.By the end of 2020, we will remove the ability to run Adobe Flash in Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer across all supported versions of Microsoft Windows. Users will no longer have any ability to enable or run Flash.

Microsoft first bundled support for Flash, starting with Windows 8, after the company’s failed competitor, Silverlight, lost interest in the market. Flash wasn’t all bad, especially at a time when the web was beginning to mature. However, it really brought new, exciting experiences to users through new forms of interactivity, multimedia, animation, and games. But as its popularity grew with web developers, it also became popular with hackers. The list of exploits just seemed never to end. So it’s no wonder the platforms are finally putting down this sick and old beast. Thanks! Steve groovyPost.com Comment Name * Email *

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