google warning flash player needs updating

It may or may not be. Click here and download Flash instead of following any links in the dialog.

(122683)

I find it difficult to believe that Google would be testing for the existence of Flash, much less its version - or displaying Flash content on the search page or even the results page. I use Firefox that disables Flash and all other Plug-ins and I NEVER get a peep from Google. I would take a look at The Safe Mac site and search there for [ Flash Google ] - if there is known malware, you will find help there from our pal thomas_r.

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When in doubt, just update Flash by using the the Flash System Preference in your Mac's System Preferences. It gets updated every couple of months lately.

Most likely that's a scam. Don't download Flash from the link that warning gives you.

If you have Flash installed, you can get the latest version here:

http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer

If you don't have Flash installed, though, you're smart... don't ruin that by installing it! 😉

I am certainly confused, if not ignorant. What puzzles me is the correlation - if any - between visiting Google and the Alert appearing. If this was merely a browser or OSX checking for updates periodically, wouldn't it happen when the browser launched, not when visiting any particular website?

I appreciate your continuing efforts and hope for your words of wisdom - at your convenience, of course.

best regards

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Flash itself checks for updates when it loads; neither the browser nor Mac OS X does this. It isn't loaded by the browser until needed.

(122711)

Thanks Niel - Crystal Clear! (pretty much) - so:

• Flash is lurking in the background,
• running all the time,
• just waiting for a "Venue" such as a browser session to "Load" and display its message that an update is available?

  this why an HTML5 compliant browser that disables plug-ins will never display the message, even though Flash exists on the device?

I guess this is why thomas_r and many others feel that Flash is an unnecessary evil and should not be installed.

I am glad for HTML5 and cannot wait until all content distributors (website authors) adopt it. Apple needs to address its use of QT for this reason, true?

*I remember when Flash was meant so one could create vector animations deliverable over dial-up - I loved "Blender Frog" and other Joe Cartoons

Thanx agin, Sensei

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The alert is probably just mentioning www.google.com, in an attempt to falsely associate itself with a legit organization.

Thanks Niel - Crystal Clear! (pretty much) - so:

• Flash is lurking in the background,
• running all the time,
• just waiting for a "Venue" such as a browser session to "Load" and display its message that an update is available?

this why an HTML5 compliant browser that disables plug-ins will never display the message, even though Flash exists on the device?

No, Flash is an Internet plugin, it only loads when a browser calls for its use, as Niel previously stated, "It isn't loaded by the browser until needed."

👿 So you are saying that the venerable software giant Adobe Products, Inc. is stooping to legitimize itself by falsely associating itself with the data collection and selling giant (disguised as a Search Engine) Google. <[ not a question, but a statement ] 👿

Very well then.

BTW, you are an 大先生 (ōsensei - Great Teacher) in my book too!

buenos tardes, amigo

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No, this wasn't a real Flash Player update. It was a fake.

Lanny

Just as I thought I had it straight...

So a website's page - such as Google's < https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl > (I open a new TAB in Firefox and type " g " and wait a beat for the History to give me this - no bookmark necessary) - that has NO Flash content present (today's has an Animation, that if it WAS Flash, it would be playing in HTML5 - but is a GIF) - Flash is not "called" into action, but yet still reminds one of the need for update? - which in Firefox, it does not, as Flash, along with QT (et al), is disabled on Firefox Launch.

The <embed> code of a web page has all the scripts regarding testing for Flash's presence and the Plug-in's Settings (has a User Preference {stored in a '.plist' likely labelled with "macromedia" in the filename} for checking for updates) - this is my recollection from 'once upon a time' when I actually authored webpages with Flash & QT content - video, animations & ShockWave Director.

So no Flash Content = no embed code = no setting for update checking in the Plug-in that is not invoked?

Still Puzzling... to me 😕

best regards, mi amigo nuevo

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Exactly what I thought. If Fake, then MalWare? How else at a simple Google Search page? - ÇÇÇ

Hey Buddy, Did you get any solution for this.

Suddenly I started getting exactly the same problem on my Mac air, on both safari and chrome, only for google.com and youtube.com. My other laptop on windows runs fine, so this probably not some router issue as mentioned on other site.

Hope you got your way out of this by now, can you share ?

Thanks