Hello madcownews, any luck if you set (double-click on it) the next preferences in about:config to TRUE ?

• plugins.hide_infobar_for_blocked_plugin

• plugins.hide_infobar_for_outdated_plugin

thank you

Why do you not want the updated Flash? All other versions of Flash are both more unstable and horribly insecure.

Because it's kluge-y, slowed down playback, and because it appears to me (and my admittedly-untutored eye) that its sole purpose is to deliver 30-second commercials before playing the video I want. These effects were most manifest in Chrome (they've had hundreds of complaints) but persisted even after I switched back to Firefox.

All of which has made me just slightly suspicious. If I'm wrong, and I'm open to that possibility, please explain why 11 previous versions of Adobe Flash have suddenly been discovered to be both "unstable" and "horribly insecure?"

Is Adobe saying they got it wrong 11 times in a row, but the 12th time is the charm? Or is there another, more commercial dynamic at play?

Finally, should I not be satisfied with your answer, is it Firefox's position that I'm to be made to click "play anyway" (or whatever it is) for each and every video served until I "upgrade" to whatever Adobe is dishing?

I thought Firefox was supposed to be different.

Flash 11 is insecure and unstable when compared to version 12. Flash is a notoriously poorly written application, it has had a long history or being insecure, unstable, and causing major performance issues. Adobe is slowly fixing it up, and version 12 is their first big step towards making it better, but they still have progress to make. But compared to Flash 12, Flash 11 is an even worse product, and using it (because it has known security holes) leaves your computer open to attack.

Also, those ads aren't because of the version of Flash player you have, but the website you view videos on. Try using something like Adblock Plus, www.adblockplus.org/ to block those ads.

And as I speak Adobe has released version 13 of Flash, so go ahead and update to that :)

I see from the list of plugins you're using Shockwave Flash 10.1 r53 which is a very old version that used to be updated as an "Extended Support Release". Those updates ended, so it's no longer secure.

According to the last Flash Player security bulletin, For users of Flash Player 11.7.700.272 and earlier versions for Windows and Macintosh, who cannot update to Flash Player 13.0.0.182, Adobe has made available the update Flash Player 11.7.700.275 ... which is the current Extended Support Release. If you want to try Flash Player 11.7.700.275 can get it here:

• http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/distribution3.html

thanks to you both.