In 2017, Adobe plans to end support for its Flash browser plug-in by the end of 2020. Now that it’s officially in 2021, support for the software has ended, and Adobe will start blocking content in Flash Player from January 12th.
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Disabling Flash should not greatly affect users, as many popular browsers have already moved away from the format. In addition, iPhone and iPad users will not be affected by the change, as iOS and iPadOS have never supported Flash.
Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs presented his “Thoughts on the Flash” in a 2010 open letter, criticizing Adobe’s software for reliability, incompatibility with mobile sites, and the battery that runs on mobile devices. Jobs also said that Adobe “is painfully slow to implement improvements to Apple’s platforms” and that Apple’s further innovation is not hampered by a ‘cross-platform development tool’.
In the past, Adobe’s Flash Player has been plagued by vulnerabilities that have exposed Mac and PC users to malware and other security risks that have left vendors like Microsoft and Apple working tirelessly to keep up with security solutions.
As Flash Player will no longer receive updates, Adobe recommends that all users remove the software immediately “to help protect their systems.”