Use Adobe's Flash and Shockwave players at your own peril. I find no need for Shockwave Player if
Flash Player is installed. I would uninstall Flash Player, but Flash is an insidious technology that
is unavoidable, although its overuse and abuse (e.g., Flash-based advertisements and tracking "Web
bugs" that do not leave traditional "cookies" on your system, but LSOs -- which you should make
certain you are deleting on a daily basis...and the Better Privacy add-on for Firefox is an
excellent way to automate the process -- and another reason to use Firefox if you insist upon using,
or must use, Windows).
You are free to ignore my advice, but I have no use for
Shockwave Player -- and do not even recall installing it, which is frightening -- and I use
FlashBlock with Firefox, and ToggleFlash with Internet Explorer when I am forced to use it or an
application that is allowed to use DDE and launch a Web browser ignores my system default browser,
Firefox, and launches Internet Explorer...which I suspect is the result of lazy developers writing
sloppy code and using ActiveX controls -- disregarding security risks to users of their software --
because it's easier to write a hook to access an OCX file installed by Microsoft than to write
original code and store needed resources in a DLL).
As soon as the warranty on this
notebook computer (a gift) expires, I will be able to stop using Windows (Vista) again -- which I'd
been doing for three years, after deleting Windows XP Professional and running Linux only...until I
got this notebook. Every platform has, and always will have security vulnerabilities and require
healthy paranoia and common sense (because "security" is not software that you can install).
We all, of course, have the freedom to use any platform/OS we choose and/or need, but the
percentage of time I spend keeping software updated and doing all I can to secure Windows uses up
time that I need to do work and try to be productive -- and the constant efforts are futile.
Adobe's Acrobat Reader, Flash Player, and Shockwave Player constantly require security
patches (which I do not recall being the case when Macromedia developed these products). Although
there are freeware and free, open-source programs for Windows to view and even create PDF documents,
Adobe has ensurced that Flash remains closed -- which, personally, I find very disturbing, because
sometimes it seems almost impossible to find a Web site that does not use Flash (although Google
Analytics and similar profiling technologies and the whole SEO industry are truly pervasive and none
of us has any idea of the multiple, aggregate profiles about us).
Software Informer is
a valuable and free tool, although it does require user trust and voluntarily exposing the programs
and versions one runs. Please do not underestimate the impoortance of keeping you software patched
and updated. Many (most?) "updates" are bug fixes and security patches: Outdated software makes you
more vulnerable to exploits.
I am thankful for Software Informer, which I use in
conjunction with Secunia PSI (Personal Software Inspector).
I am removing Shockwave
Player, because it is redundant if one has Flash installed (and does not use Shockwave content --
most of which seems to be games), and, IMHO, Shockwave Player is a security "backdoor" that wastes
system resources and is of no, or minimal, benefit to most people if they have Flash Player
installed.
Of course, if you use Shockwave content and enjoy or need it, please know
that I my decision to uninstall it is a personal one. I respect each person's freedom of choice and,
in my opinion, for me -- or anyone -- to feel otherwise would make me a presumptuous [insert your
derogatory term of choice here]! I do hope that people will accept my advice: Please take advantage
of Software Informer's "Program Title and Version" feature and keep your software, add-ons, and
drivers updated.
How come the Update says the Verson is 11.0. when the web site says its 10.3, something is rotten in
demark here, I dont think you keep acurate records on your program updates I think you need more
staff or a better way to kieep track of your updates.
I had problems downloading on a slow dial-up line but after multiple attempts the software was
installed. The Shockwave player is working well and more than satisfactory. Thanks.
