Updates - July 30, 2009

SpywareBlaster updates.

55 new updates, for a total of 12,633 in database.

Re: the SpywareBlaster update (just mentioned by Joe), the 55 new items are all ActiveX controls (IE)

Adobe FLASH Player 10.0.32.18 (aka Flash 10c)

installer for Firefox, Safari, Opera:   http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flash...lash_player.exe

installer for IE (ActiveX): http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flash...h_player_ax.exe

Note: Uncheck  toolbar offerings, if any, that are "bundled" with the installer ---  they're not needed to run/use Flash Player.

Note: This update resolves the critical vulnerabilities that were announced here:    

http://www.adobe.com/support/security/advisories/apsa09-03.html and here

http://www.adobe.com/support/security/advisories/apsa09-04.html

(for more information, see also http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb09-10.html )

I have some questions about Adobe Flash Player 10.0.32.18. I am running  XP on one machine and Vista on another. I am just addressing the XP Machine with these questions.

How can you tell if you have Adobe Flash Player? When I check in Add/Remove programs I see Adobe Flash Player 10 Active X, and Adobe Flash Player 10 Plugin, and Adobe Shockwave Player 11.5.  Which if any of these are the Adobe Flash Player?

Do you uninstall the old Adobe Flash Player first before installing the Adobe Flash Player 10..032.18?

aps@sun:

You see what I see (in XP) in Add/Remove.

You can test your version of Flash here:
http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/welcome/

Adobe Flash Player 10 ActiveX is IE's player.

I believe the Adobe Flash Player 10 Plugin is for Firefox and Opera.

Shockwave Player 11.5 is a different program altogether.

I always prefer to uninstall old versions prior to a new clean install, but don't know if it's absolutely necessary for Flash Player.

Annie,

Joe is correct in his statements… but I’m gonna elaborate on them...  [EDIT:  Upon re-reading this, I realized all these details are probably "overkill"; but for anyone who's interested]:

1) In Add/Remove programs, Adobe Flash Player 10 ActiveX is the Add-On for Internet Explorer.

1a)  If you highlight this program in Add/Remove, and click on click here for support information , it will tell you your version… which, after today’s update, should be 10.0.32.18

1b) You can confirm the IE ActiveX Add-on via Windows Explorer, by looking in

C:\Windows\Downloaded Program Files

If installed, it will show as Shockwave Flash Object ; and upon scrolling to the right, you’ll see the version number (the updated version should be 10,0,32,18)  [Don’t let the name “Shockwave Flash” confuse you here… Flash and Shockwave are separate/distinct programs.]

1c) You can also confirm the IE ActiveX Add-on via Windows Explorer, by looking in

C:\WINDOWS\system32\Macromed\flash

If installed, you should find the file  Flash10c.ocx ; if you RIGHT-click on this file, select PROPERTIES and then click the VERSION tab, it will list the [updated] file version as 10.0.32.18

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2) In Add/Remove programs, Adobe Flash Player 10 Plugin is the plug-in for other browsers, including Opera and Firefox.

3) Adobe Shockwave Player 11.5 is a completely separate program from Flash.   I have it on my computer.   However, I have often pointed out that I have no idea as to whether or not I’ve actually ever used the program for "ordinary usage" (that is to say, aside from expressly running a test on it).   Nevertheless, if you DO have it, it’s prudent to keep it updated.

3b) You can confirm the Shockwave ActiveX for IE via Windows Explorer, by looking in

C:\Windows\Downloaded Program Files

3c) You can also confirm the Shockwave version(s) via Windows Explorer, by looking in

C:\WINDOWS\system32\Adobe\Director

The Shockwave ActiveX Version for IE is named SwDir.dll ;

The Shockwave Plugin for Opera/Firefox is named np32dsw.dll

And each one (if updated) should indicate version 11.5.1.601

on the matter of whether or not to uninstall older flash versions first, vs. installing the latest flash "over the top", the best recommendation is to uninstall the older flash version(s) first, specifically by using Adobe's dedicated Flash uninstaller, which can be obtained from http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/141/tn_14157.html .  

This dedicated uninstaller is allegedly more effective/complete than uninstalling Flash through add/remove of your Control Panel.

the reason for this recommendation is that an "over the top" installation of the new version might leave some older copies lingering around.   If you test your flash at the adobe site http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/welcome/ , it will acknowledge that you have "successfully" installed the latest version.   And the latest version will indeed be used by any legitimate program that invokes Flash in a normal manner.    All will appear to be working well.  However, if an older version is still lurking around somewhere (most likely in the   C:\WINDOWS\system32\Macromed\flash  folder I cited above --- if you find Flash10a.ocx or Flash10b.ocx , or an even older file like Flash9.ocx , or simply an "un-numbered" Flash.ocx , or SWFlash.ocx ), malware programs can still find these, and take advantage of the vulnerabililities located therein.

I installed on top of the older version with no problem.  Can't seem to find those remnants of older versions. I must have done something right.

joe53, Thanks for your help also.  Annie

ky331, Thank you for all the detail you provided. I am sure this helped not only me but many others as well. The tip for the dedicated uninstaller is one that I appreciate. I was able to uninstall the older version of Adobe Flash and then install the newer version. I wonder how the average computer user is ever to figure out of of this. I appreciate your detailed instructions.  Annie

Bugbatter, Even though I used the  uninstaller I can still find FlashUtil10b Version 10.0.22.87 at C:\Windows|System 31\Macromed\flash. The uninstaller did not remove this version from my computer. I also have the new FlashUtil10c Version 10.0.32.18. The uninstaller will remove the latter. I am not sure if this is meaningful or not.

I installed on top of the older version with no problem.  Can't seem to find those remnants of older versions. I must have done something right.

Hi Red dawn,  Internet Explorer was closed, and I do not have any of the Messengers. The one step I may have missed is the reboot after uninstalling. Let me try the entire procedure again and get back to you. Annie

Hi Red Dawn,  I ran through this entire procedure again this time rebooting after I used the uninstaller. I still have FlashUtil10b version 10.0.22.87. In the system tray I have Zone Alarm running, Avast, and Win Patrol. Do any of these programs use Flash that you know of?

Annie,

can you simply click-on the  FlashUtil10b.exe  and delete it (to your Recycle Bin)?   Or is the file "locked"/protected against manual deletion as well?