If you have ever heard of Flash, you’ve probably asked yourself the question: “How do I fix Flash on my computer?” Flash is a finicky program that often crashes. And it’s not only buggy – Flash can also be dangerous for your computer if it’s not updated regularly.
First of all, what is Flash? Flash is a “multimedia platform” created and maintained by Adobe, and is used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash typically helps your computer play streaming media such as radio broadcast, or, most regularly, YouTube videos.
Without Flash, most computer browsers would not be able to play YouTube (although that may change as new technologies are introduced).
So, if Flash is out of date and refuses to work, it can be extremely annoying because you won’t be able to watch videos or listen to music. Flash also sometimes powers webpages as well.
Why Flash can be dangerous for your computer
Flash is also used to display things like banner ads on webpages. Almost every website we visit has some sort of banner ad. However if your browser’s Flash plugin is not up to date, it can be a serious security issue. Hackers can find vulnerabilities, and can find ways to transmit viruses to your computer via Flash (often this risk is paired with the failure of the website owner to either make sure their own site is updated, or they may have chosen a really inept and risky way to build their website, making it easy for hackers to find a foothold).
So, update Flash! It will save you aggravation, and will help make your web surfing safer. Here’s a link to the Adobe Flash download page.