What the Flash Player EOL means

DR M · January 15, 2021, 04:01:29 PM

Flash Player EOL was reached by the end of 2020. That means that it is no longer supported for security or other updates. As I understand, nothing that was using it works now. So, all those flash games and applications are dead too? I thought it would be a user's choice, using the expired flash player or not. I was asked today about some educational flash games and I wonder if there is an instant solution for this.

Pete! · January 15, 2021, 10:08:03 PM

I can neither recommend, nor warn against it, but there's an emulator.
https://ruffle.rs/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruffle_(software)

Before trying it, I'd suggest googling and reading the reviews.

DR M · January 16, 2021, 02:22:49 PM

I don't think I will use it...

It just seemed to me very strange... All those applications to stop working. There were so many educational games using flash and the creators didn't do anything to replace it in time.

plodr · January 16, 2021, 02:41:10 PM

Adobe made the first announcement in 2017 that flash was going to reach EOL. Companies, if interested, had time to devise a plan. They chose not to. I'd be complaining to the companies that decided to do nothing.

Metallica · January 18, 2021, 01:31:19 PM

Plug: https://blog.malwarebytes.com/awareness/2021/01/adobe-flash-player-reaches-end-of-life/

xrobwx71 · January 20, 2021, 09:08:56 PM

Quote from: DR M on January 15, 2021, 04:01:29 PM
Flash Player EOL was reached by the end of 2020. That means that it is no longer supported for security or other updates. As I understand, nothing that was using it works now. So, all those flash games and applications are dead too? I thought it would be a user's choice, using the expired flash player or not. I was asked today about some educational flash games and I wonder if there is an instant solution for this.

Yes, I had a few screensavers that simply quit working, they only display the "f" symbol in the middle of the screen.

xrobwx71 · January 21, 2021, 12:57:07 PM

https://www.infoworld.com/article/3433759/ruffle-project-hopes-to-resurrect-flash-player.html

https://www.slashgear.com/flash-videos-and-games-are-resurrected-by-ruffles-emulator-26588575/

Corrine · February 06, 2021, 03:01:03 PM

Quote from: Pete! on January 15, 2021, 10:08:03 PM
I can neither recommend, nor warn against it, but there's an emulator.
https://ruffle.rs/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruffle_(software)

Before trying it, I'd suggest googling and reading the reviews.

According to the tests BC conducted, Ruffle is safe to use: This Flash Player emulator lets you securely play your old games.

DR M · February 06, 2021, 04:44:33 PM

Thanks, Corrine.

It can be useful for a lot of people, including teachers. As I said, many educational apps depend on Flash.

plodr · February 07, 2021, 02:52:59 PM

Thanks Corrine. I see posts of people who don't want to update a browser just so they have flash. I tell them it isn't safe to use an unpatched browser since so many of us spend the majority of computer time connected to the internet. I'll now recommend this flash emulator.

I have a screensaver that I've given up and removed in 2019. I might see if this allows me to use it again.

plodr · February 07, 2021, 03:03:11 PM

They have a demo page to try before you use it.
https://ruffle.rs/demo/

I can't install my screensaver because it requires flash player before it will install. So I no longer have any swf files on the computer to test.