Adobe Flash Player has received extra attention from Google within its Chrome browser, and has now been “fully sandboxed” within Google’s browser across Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chrome OS platforms.
The purpose of sandboxing is to help restrict malware from being able to install itself on your computer, adding additional layers of security against malicious websites that might have other plans for your computer whilst viewing a video on their site. Watch the video after the jump to learn more about the Chrome Flash Sandboxing update.
Enhanced Security Measures
Google has been working with Adobe since 2012 to help make their Chrome browser even more secure against possible threats. The addition of the newly added sandboxing for Adobe Flash Player offers great protection for users against malicious websites. Sandboxing is a security mechanism used to run applications in a restricted environment, limiting their access to the rest of the system. This means that even if a malicious website tries to exploit a vulnerability in Flash Player, the damage it can do is significantly minimized.
“With this release, Flash Player is now fully sandboxed in Chrome on all of our desktop platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chrome OS. Ultimately, this means a safer experience for you as you browse the web. We take the security of Chrome extremely seriously, so we’re excited to be delivering these enhanced protections, and we’ve enjoyed collaborating with Adobe on this effort.”
Collaboration with Adobe
The collaboration between Google and Adobe has been crucial in achieving this milestone. Adobe Flash Player has been a popular target for cyber-attacks due to its widespread use and occasional security vulnerabilities. By working together, Google and Adobe have been able to implement robust security measures that protect users without compromising the performance or functionality of Flash Player.
For example, sandboxing isolates Flash Player processes from the rest of the system, preventing them from accessing sensitive data or executing harmful commands. This is particularly important for users who frequently visit websites that use Flash for video playback, interactive content, or advertisements. The sandboxing technology ensures that even if a Flash-based attack occurs, it remains contained within the sandbox, safeguarding the user’s system.
Moreover, this collaboration has led to continuous updates and improvements in both Chrome and Flash Player. Users can expect regular security patches and enhancements, ensuring that they are always protected against the latest threats. This proactive approach to security demonstrates Google’s commitment to providing a safe browsing experience for its users.
For more information, jump over to the official Google announcement.
Future of Flash Player
While the sandboxing of Flash Player in Chrome is a significant achievement, it’s important to note that the future of Flash Player itself is limited. Major browsers, including Chrome, have announced plans to phase out support for Flash by the end of 2020. This decision is driven by the rise of more secure and efficient technologies like HTML5, which offer similar functionalities without the security risks associated with Flash.
However, until Flash is completely phased out, the sandboxing feature will continue to provide an essential layer of protection for users. It ensures that those who still rely on Flash for certain applications or websites can do so safely. As we move towards a Flash-free web, the lessons learned from this collaboration between Google and Adobe will undoubtedly influence the development of future security technologies.
Source: Google
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