KB4051613: Adobe Flash Player Windows Update
KB4051613Â -- Update for Adobe Flash Player: November 1, 2017 -- is a new Windows Update that resolves Adobe Flash Player issues.
The update is available for all versions of Windows that include Adobe Flash Player natively. What's particularly interesting about that is that Microsoft released the patch not only for Windows versions that it supports, but also for versions of Windows that it no longer supports.
The company released the KB4051613 update for the following client and server versions of the Windows operating system: Windows 8.1, Windows 8.1 RT, Windows 10 RTM, Windows 10 version 1507, 1511, 1607, 1703 and 1711, Windows Embedded 8, Windows Server 2012, Server 2012 R2, Server 2016.
Windows users who use another version of Windows need to download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player from the Adobe website instead and install the update manually. (sorry no links)
KB4051613
The update is available as a standalone download from Microsoft's Update Catalog website, but also distributed via Windows Update.
Microsoft's Knowledgebase support article reveals little about the update other than that the "update resolves issues in Adobe Flash Player".
Adobe however published the following information about the Flash Player update on October 25, 2017 which provides some information on the fixes it includes:
In today's release, we've updated Flash Player with an important functional fix impacting Flex content and recommend those users impacted update.
The update fixes the Flash Player crash in the VMware vSphere Web Client that users who installed the Flash Player version 27.0.0.170 experienced.
It is unclear if the update fixes other issues, but neither Microsoft nor Adobe mention any. Assuming that the update fixes only the crash issue in VMware, there is little reason for users and administrators who don't work with VMware to install the patch right away.
As usual, it is a good idea to back up the system before you install updates to it. While most updates will install fine and without issues, there is always the chance that things will go badly and the backup gives you an option to restore the system to the previous state.
Make sure you read the paragraphs under "important" on the Knowledgebase website. Basically, what these state is that you will have to install language packs anew after installing the update, and that the update KB2919355 is a prerequisite for pre-Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 systems.
Who thought, at microsoft, that embedding Flash directly into Windows was a good idea??
“In Windows 10 we have great technologies – core security technologies. In fact the virtualization infrastructure coupled with security features is what makes Windows 10 the most secure operating system.†– Satya Nadella (2015)
I suspect the guy who declared Win10 “the most secure operating system†is the one who decided to embed Flash.
If you’re talking about security, it’s good that Windows embbed flash to the system so it will always get updated. That’s also one of the reason why Chrome also embedded flash on their browser.
People used to use out of date flash on internet explorer and that’s security risk.
@jaji
Just because you have the latest patched version of Flash does not mean that it is secure. Adobe has proven time and again that they are incapable of making Flash secure as the huge number of so called ‘fixes’ that they have had to continually release amply demonstrates. The sooner it disappears the better.
Windows 10 is so great that even if you hate it, you have to use it one day, because it’s the only one to have mainstream support. It is totally secure, it is totally beautiful and the UI is totally consistent and it totally doesn’t have half the settings still in Control Panel and it totally doesn’t have XP and Windows 95 16-bit icons. The developers are totally not lazy incompetent slackers and are totally smart and futuristic.
Like totally dude.
There are three sites I use which need Flash.
I updated from 27.0.0.130 to 27.0.0.157 and Flash crashed with a memory error so I reinstalled 130.
Adobe released 27.0.0.170 and then 27.0.0.183. When I installed them, Flash still crashed with the same memory error.
I fixed the problem by installing 27.0.0.180 Beta Flash. The Beta version runs with no crashes.
NB Before I installed each version, I ran the Adobe Flash Uninstaller to get rid of the previous version. I have found that it is essential to do a clean install of Flash to avoid problems. I always use the Flash Player Installer and not the Updater.
I run Win 7 so Flash is not embedded. :)
As a matter of interest could you post one of the links to a site where you say Flash needs to be installed in order to view a video?
@ TeIV
One of the sites is Ookla, the download/upload speed tester. The way that Ookla works is similar to video playing. Ookla also has an HTML5 tester but it is in Beta and will not test the upload. :(
This is the link:
http://www.speedtest.net/
facebook, crunchyroll. Facebook still uses flash for a tiny portions of their videos.
I like to go to https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/about/ using Chrome, Opera, Edge, and IE11 to see if Flash is current. It was so for me under Windows 10 FCU Home.
@Gary D
Why don’t you use http://beta.speedtest.net/ ? There is no need for Flash…
Because the HTML5 Beta test is faulty ! The upload speed test does not work. It hangs on my laptop !
Your laptop is f-cked up, man. HTML5 nor Flash with latest patches freezes, hangs or anything like that on ant of my Windows 10 computers when doing that speed test.
I don’t know about you but for me works perfect, upload and download under firefox.
@ Gary D
Disable Flash! (yes disable it completely not just set it to “Ask to activate) and then run the test. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see that it runs without the need to have Flash installed.
What happens is that when you connect to a site somewhere, it identifies which extensions and plugins you have installed. If Flash is enabled the site sends you the animation version which requires Flash. If Flash isn’t detected, the site automatically connects to the beta site and sends you the HTML5 version of the test.
Do the same on the other sites you think you need Flash for.
Microsoft is releasing security patches for Adobe products?
Is Flash included in some MS operating systems?
Yes Flash is included in IE and Edge on W8.1 and W10.
It was included in (at least) WinXP and Win7, but it was also possible to decline. Is it still possible to decline, when installing Win10?
Few months ago I found the flash player settings in W10 control panel wont stick. Adding the mms.cfg was also futile. Removed npapi flash an all was good, reinstalled and back to notsogood. Currrently running firefox without flash and finding not needing it much. Keep Edge disabled also.