Adobe announced in 2017 that it intends to end support for its Flash browser plug-in at the end of 2020. Now that it’s officially 2021, software support is over, and Adobe will start blocking content in Flash Player starting with January 12.
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Flash removal should not have a strong impact on users, as many popular browsers have already moved away from the format. In addition, iPhone and iPad users are not affected by the change, as iOS and iPadOS have never supported Flash.
Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs offered his “Thoughts on Flash” in an open letter in 2010, criticizing Adobe software for its reliability, incompatibility with mobile sites, and battery consumption on mobile devices. Jobs also said that Adobe was “painfully slow in adopting improvements to Apple platforms,” and that Apple’s subsequent innovations would not be hindered by a “cross-platform development tool.”
In the past, Adobe Flash Player had suffered continuously from vulnerabilities that exposed Mac and PC users to malware and other security risks that led vendors such as Microsoft and Apple to work tirelessly to keep up with security solutions.
Because Flash Player will no longer receive updates, Adobe recommends that all users immediately remove the software “to protect their systems.”