Q: Is the latest version of Flash safe to use?

Flash Player should ONLY be installed from Adobe’s website.

You can check here what version of Flash player you actually have installed:  http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/155/tn_15507.html

You can check here:  http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/about/  to see which version you should install for your Mac and OS. You should first uninstall any previous version of Flash Player, using the uninstaller from here (make sure you use the correct one!):

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/909/cpsid_90906.html

and also that you follow the instructions closely, such as closing ALL applications (including Safari) first before installing. It is highly recommended that you carry out a permission repair after installing anything from Adobe.

After installing, reboot your Mac and relaunch Safari, then in Safari Preferences/Security enable ‘Allow Plugins’. If you are running 10.6.8 or later:

When you have installed the latest version of Flash, relaunch Safari and test.

If you're getting a "blocked plug-in" error, then in System Preferences… ▹ Flash Player ▹ Advanced

click Check Now. Quit and relaunch your browser. More advice here:

http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac-software/unblock-safari-plug-ins-on-mac-360 8065/