Adobe Flash Update

[ExXB]

Yet again, while browsing, a window opened behind my browser telling me that I have to update Adobe Flash. How do I know this really is from Adobe and that it can be trusted?

It downloads and then asks for my Mavericks administrators code before installing itself. Once installed it asks me to agree to their T&Cs (and it changes the update setting to automatic - I don't like this, I want to know everything that is being installed on my Mac.)

Last question, are there any workarounds so I don't need to use Adobe, I hate it.

[mixture]

How do I know this really is from Adobe and that it can be trusted?

Simples. You don't use that dialogue box and you use the Adobe mechanisms to check for and download updates !

From the rest of your mail I deduce you're on a mac.... go to System Preferences -> Flash Player and press the button that says "Check Now"

It downloads and then asks for my Mavericks administrators code before installing itself. Once installed it asks me to agree to their T&Cs (and it changes the update setting to automatic - I don't like this, I want to know everything that is being installed on my Mac.)

How else do you expect software to install itself except with your admin password ?

You can change automatic back to manual update.

You can look at the package details if you want to see what's being installed..... or if you're feeling really geeky, just strace the installer !

If you're super worried you could always look into Faronics Deep Freeze for Mac !

Last question, are there any workarounds so I don't need to use Adobe, I hate it.

Until HTML5 becomes more mature and its usage more commonplace, no.

Apple were early adopters in encouraging the move to HTML5 by not supporting Flash on the iPhone. This did help kickstart the adoption of HTML5, at least for companies who didn't feel like coding their own apps for the iPhone !

YouTube are also now offering HTML5, but this remains optional.... the default YouTube player remains Flash.

Adobe Flash remains very popular on many websites. Eventually it will go the way of Java Applets and HTML5 will rule the roost.... but unlike Java Applets, there are far more developers who use flash, far more users have flash installed already..... so it will take a while....plus HTML5 is not mature enough yet.

As well as the maturity and developer know-how, HTML5 is also dependent on more "modern" browsers for correct implementation.... whilst with Flash, all you need is the plugin installed, doesn't matter what browser because the plugin does the donkey work. That's why developers tend to err towards Flash because its easier to get consistent cross-platform cross-browser results.