Why is system update manager forcing me to install adobe flash player?

[somenumbaccount]

I thought linux was committed to system security, i dont know of a more unsafe software to install. If i try to hide flash player option it just pops back up next time i run update manager. How to i permanent remove flash and prevent it from ever installing again?

[karlchen]

Hello, somenumbaccount.

Update Manager offers only software packages for updating, provided an older version is already present on your system.
As Update Manager offers to install Flash 32.0.0.134, this means that currently an older version is installed, hopefully 32.0.0.101.

You may use e.g. Synaptic package manager in order to uninstall Flash.
Inside Synaptic locate the 2 software packages adobe-flash-properties-gtk and adobe-flashplugin.
Right-click them. Select "Mark for removal". Click [Apply]. Confirm.
HTH,
Karl

[hcentaur13]

Update manager does not get you to install something. It does only update your packages so you gets the most current version of software in tha package list when you which to install a package. When you have installed a package it will not only deliver information about a package but will magically install the newer software by replacing the installed one with the newer one.

[trytip]

i don't have that installed, i took it out and i don't have updates for it. you can do the same if you like.

[sleeper12]

Hello, somenumbaccount.

Update Manager offers only software packages for updating, provided an older version is already present on your system.
As Update Manager offers to install Flash 32.0.0.134, this means that currently an older version is installed, hopefully 32.0.0.101.

You may use e.g. Synaptic package manager in order to uninstall Flash.
Inside Synaptic locate the 2 software packages adobe-flash-properties-gtk and adobe-flashplugin.
Right-click them. Select "Mark for removal". Click [Apply]. Confirm.
HTH,
Karl

Or, it might be flashplugin-installer in some Mint versions (since he didn't specify which version he's on).

[redlined]

if I'm not mistaken, adobe flashplayer is installed when a User chooses to install 3rd party apps during the initial install of Linux Mint (or subsequently installed if not during OS install)

regardless, as others have made clear Update Manager will only update and upgrade packages installed by user other than the OS defaults it also takes care of. Noting Karlchen's response we can also get this done from terminal by enter the command: sudo apt purge adobe-flashplugin adobe-flash-properties-gtk

Do this with browser closed then check if flash is still present in Firefox > Add-ons > Plugins (or other browser of choice plugin location) and that should get rid of the problem.

If you find adobe flash plugin listed in your browser then look for how to remove/reset plugin.dat, or if using Firefox follow this guide for a "refresh" and see if that clears it out for you.

[kukamuumuka]

Are you sure that flash is installed?

Code: Select all

dpkg --get-selections | grep flash

[redlined]

Or, it might be flashplugin-installer in some Mint versions (since he didn't specify which version he's on).

I think flashplugin-installer is a basic package to initiate installing the right version from adobe
also, I do know from other thread(s) OP is engaged in the distro is LMDE3.

ps. sleeper12, seeing you here is giving me 'flashbacks' to the 6pages of flash shenanigans back in November

[redlined]

Are you sure that flash is installed?

Code: Select all

dpkg --get-selections | grep flash

ahhh yes, the tell all command!
reminds me, I've got libhall-flash to add to purge if OP uses the cmdline version I recommended above

[sleeper12]

Or, it might be flashplugin-installer in some Mint versions (since he didn't specify which version he's on).

I think flashplugin-installer is a basic package to initiate installing the right version from adobe
also, I do know from other thread(s) OP is engaged in the distro is LMDE3.

ps. sleeper12, seeing you here is giving me 'flashbacks' to the 6pages of flash shenanigans back in November

All I know is my Mint 18 has flashplugin-installer installed, not adobe-flashplugin.
Yes, I recall the 6 page fiasco. We were on the right track though.

[redlined]

Or, it might be flashplugin-installer in some Mint versions (since he didn't specify which version he's on).

I think flashplugin-installer is a basic package to initiate installing the right version from adobe
also, I do know from other thread(s) OP is engaged in the distro is LMDE3.

ps. sleeper12, seeing you here is giving me 'flashbacks' to the 6pages of flash shenanigans back in November

All I know is my Mint 18 has flashplugin-installer installed, not adobe-flashplugin.
Yes, I recall the 6 page fiasco. We were on the right track though.

yah, and I have no clue what LMDE3 might be tied to, the grep command will get the proper package names to be purged though.

and... fiasco
(to me it was and will always be fondly remembered as... the best thread ever!

[Moem]

Mod note:
Moved the thread to the LMDE area, because the OP is apparently using LMDE.

[trytip]

ok, i was wrong adobe-flashplugin was installed in my mint 19.1 cinnamon/xfce but i careless about updates and if i did receive any i must have overlooked it since i don't use firefox only for testing but either way it's deactivated in addons/plugins. i uninstalled so, if i need this damm plugin i will just download it form the adobe site
https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ select the .tar.gz. for Linux and paste libflashplayer.so to /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/
if i want to be fancy i will take the usr directory from the .tar.gz and merge it with my own which i did.
"but then i won't get security updates" so it's up to me to figure out what i want to do.