Posts tagged ‘flash player’

The Latest Flash Spy Vulnerability, The Biggest Security Threat to Gmail

Gmail users attention! The newest Flash vulnerability is undergoing hacker attacks, it may lead to Gmail info leak, malicious use of email and other consequences. Adobe has currently released the upgraded version of Flash Player to repair this serious issue.

According to the analysis, when Gmail users open the malicious web page with Flash vulnerability attack codes, a “spy” account will be secretly added by hackers in your Gmail. This “spy” account can read not only all the emails, but also send emails in the name of Gmail master, so that the hackers can release malicious ADs, fraud information etc.

Flash is widely used in the fields like web video, web games and so on, and Adobe Flash Player has been installed in almost 90% home computers. At the same time, Gmail has a large number of loyal users as well. Therefore, the exposure of Flash “spy” vulnerability will be a great threat to Gmail security.

At present, Adobe company has released the upgraded version of Flash Player to repair this vulnerability. It is highly recommended to download and install the latest Flash Player from Adobe’s official website, to protect the safety of your Gmail account.

Adobe Flash Player 10.3 All New Features Presentation(Part II)

To be continued, this blog will present the remaining features of Adobe Flash Player 10.3 and again, analyze how it works with Moyea SWF Converter perfectly.



Adobe Flash Player 10.3 remaining new features:

Interoperate with Network and System Resources

DATA STORAGE AND EXCHANGE

Asynchronous communication model; Binary sockets; Shared objects; Binary data access; Local connection.

SYSTEM INTERACTION

Globalization support; File upload and download APIs; Input method editor (IME) support; Read/write clipboard access.

BROWSER INTEGRATION

Browser privacy mode (desktop only); Out-of-memory management; External API; WMODE

ACCESSIBILITY Support for MSAA

Deliver Consistent Web Experiences

OPENNESS

Open specifications; Open source support

COLLABORATION

Public bugbase; SWF search; Open Screen Project

Depend on the most Ubiquitous, Consistent Cross-platform Runtime

EASY CROSS-PLATFORM DEPLOYMENT

Support for mobile platforms; Cross-platform and browser consistency; Rapid adoption; Easy installation

Now, let’s come back to Moyea side. Due to the Lower-Playback-Speed technology and WYSIWYG(what you see is what you get) principle, Moyea SWF converter is able to convert the flash SWF files with extremely-low frame rate and extremely-big file size, in a very easy way! Besides that, the pro-exclusive SWF editing features can also guarantee a personalized and high-quality Flash output. For more info about the collaboration between Moyea SWF and Adobe Flash Player since 10.1, please click here.

Adobe Flash Player 10.3 All New Features Presentation(Part I)

From the earliest Flash Player 10.1 to the current 10.3, Moyea SWF Converter is being updated synchronously too for only one purpose: to support well kinds of Flash SWF files!

Each time whenever there is an update for Flash, Moyea has its own seamless solutions, making your Flash enjoyment on popular devices fast, cost-effective and best-quality-guaranteed.

Let us have a glance at the new features of Adobe Flash Player 10.3:

Control User Privacy

Simplified local storage management Desktop

 

Only

Clear local storage from the browser settings interface just like how you clear your browser cookies.
Local settings manager Manage Flash Player privacy, security, and storage settings directly from the Control Panel.
Auto-update notification for Mac OS Stay current more easily due to the support for automatic notification of software updates on Mac OS.

New Creative Possibilities

FILTERS AND EFFECTS 3D Effects Create more intuitive, engaging interfaces using built-in support for 3D effects.
Custom Filters and Effects Create high-performance, real-time effects for cinematic experiences that quickly engage users.
Dynamic Filters, Effects, Blend Modes, and Fills Add real-time dynamic effects with built-in filters for blur, drop shadow, glow and more.
TEXT Sub-Pixel Text Rendering Enjoy improved readability of text in Flash Player, especially for complex character-based languages.
Mobile Text Input Input text using native device virtual keyboards with TextField support if no physical keyboard is detected.
Advanced Text Support Take advantage of the flexible text engine that brings print-quality publishing to the web.
NATIVE DEVICE INTERACTIONS Native Custom Mouse Cursors Define custom native mouse cursors, enabling user experience enhancements and improving performance.
Accelerometer Input Leverage accelerometer input on supported devices for user input control and to control screen orientation.
Multitouch and Gestures Take advantage of the latest hardware and operating system user interaction capabilities using new ActionScript 3.0 APIs for multitouch and native gesture events.

Produce Stunning Media Experiences

AUDIO AND VIDEO CODECS Acoustic echo cancellation (desktop only); Speex audio codec; High-quality video codecs
HIGH PERFORMANCE PLAYBACK Stage Video hardware acceleration; H.264 video hardware decoding; Internet Explorer 9 hardware-accelerated rendering support (desktop only)
MEDIA DELIVERY Content protection (desktop and Google TV only); Fast switch; HTTP Dynamic Streaming; Stream reconnect; Smart seek; Buffered stream catch-up; Peer-assisted networking

Deploy Dynamic Web Applications on a Powerful Runtime

EXTENSIBILITY ActionScript 3.0; Global error handling; Microphone access (desktop only); Dynamic sound generation; Drawing API; Text engine; Binary file support; Bitmap manipulation; Context menu
HIGH PERFORMANCE Audio hardware decoding; Hardware acceleration; Full-screen, hardware-accelerated mode; Graphical rendering; Multicore support for graphics; Anti-aliasing engine (Saffron 3.1); ActionScript Virtual Machine 2; Vector data type
RAPID RESPONSE TIME Optimized SWF management (mobile only); Sleep mode (mobile only); Flash Player cache; Periodic timer; Lightweight application size; Progressive application loading

So, as the partial new features of Adobe Flash Player 10.3 have surfaced, click here to know how Moyea SWF Converter ingratiate itself with them since the Flash Player 10.1!

( to be continued)

Flash Schools and Flash Tutorials 2 – Flash How To

After the general introduction of Flash in the previous blog entry, including the definition of Flash and the advantages & disadvantages of Flash, now we come to the second chapter of Flash Schools and Flash Tutorials series – how to deal with Flash? This part includes the following contents:

1-view-flash-swf

Who can View and How to View Flash?

According to a survey conducted in 2000, 96.4% web users have Shockwave Player(Flash Player) preinstalled in their computers. There it goes, exactly those people can experience Flash content via the Flash Player.

2-create-flash-swf

How to Create Flash Movie?

To create your own Flash movies, Flash games, Flash banners, Flash slideshows, Flash animations, etc. you have to have some Flash programs. For example, Adobe Flash Lite, Flash SWF Editor, Flash SWF Banner Maker and so on.

3-download-flash-swf

How to Download & Convert Flash SWF Files?

Have no idea and prefer not bother to make Flash by yourself? Try to download it directly from Internet with a handy online Flash downloader and then proceed to convert the downloaded Flash SWF to video in popular formats for playback on various portable devices.

help for flash swf

How to Ask for Help about Flash?

After you have installed Flash, you should go through the lessons that are included in the program. Start Adobe Flash, click Help in the menu and choose Lessons. These lessons will teach you the basics of Flash.

BlackBerry Tablet PC Confirms to Support Flash

According to foreign media reports, the rumors about BlackBerry tablet PC ‘s release has lasted for several months. Ashok Kumar, an analyst from Rodman & Renshaw, has released a statement last Friday regarding this issue, which accurately revealed the news that may make the rumors come true.

blackberry-flash1

From Boy Genius Report released in May, it is guessable that BlackBerry tablet PC screen size might be 8.9 inches, only the bluetooth or WiFi connection available, has to mate with BlackBerry phones. When it comes to June report from Wall Street Journal, it is estimated that the equipment will come with “a slide-out keyboard, which can operate BlackBerry new system on it, and with general search column.”

blackberry-flash2

Kumar said in the statement, actually the size of BlackBerry tablet PC is 7 inches, with 1GHz Marvell processor, two cameras for video conference. Insiders have confirmed the accuracy of the news, meanwhile, they also said BlackBerry tablet will support Flash, and the hardware-based Flash accelerator is also available.

blackberry-flash3

Adobe CEO, Mr. Shantanu Narayen previously said that Flash 10.1 will land BlackBerry in the late 2010. Although the impact of flash-supported BlackBerry tablet is still unknown in the market, it is definitely an ideal equipment for mobile enterprise users.

Anyhow, whether the BlackBerry tablet will be released in the upcoming Dec is still a mystery.

PS: for more ways to make flash playable on devices which radically do not support flash, please turn to this useful tool for help.

Microsoft IE9 will Support VP8 Video Technology and May Replace Flash

May 20th, 2010, manager of IE department Dean Hachamovitch said Microsoft IE9 browser will support VP8 video CODEC technology, the purpose of which is to improve IE9’s openness and compatibility.

WebM Project

Google has announced the debut of WebM project on Wednesday’s I/O developers technology conference. WebM is an open, royalty-free network media file format, and is supported by the commercial software giants such as Mozilla(the developer of Firefox browser), Opera(the developer of Norway browser), AMD, Nvidia , Oracle and so on.

WebM adopts VP8 codec technology, which is Matroska media technology based on the network video technology developer On2.. Early this February, Google has taken over On2 with $1.06 million dollars. On2 is well-known for video compression technology, and this technology has been widely applied in all kinds of desktop software and mobile applications. On2 customers include Adobe, Skype, Nokia, Infineon, Sun, SONY, American network television servicer Brightcove etc.

Microsoft Response

Regarding Google WebM, Hachamovitch said on Wednesday’s night in blog: “IE9 supports not only HTML5, but also H.264 video and VP8 video. However, the premise is the users must have the VP8 codec pack installed in Windows.” He stressed that there are still some specific technical problems need to be solved before IE9’s perfect support to VP8.

Hachamovitch said: “I want to make it clear that we hope to maintain IE’s security and stability, but at the same, improve its openness and compatibility. We promise to the customers that IE9 shall support all the frequently-used media formats. Meanwhile, the intellectual property rights of Windows clients, developers, and all internet users, will be protected.

Standard Competition

Fully support to networl video is one of the new functions of HTML5 internet browsing standard. But for the network video standard, Ogg Theora and H.264 are deadlocked. Microsoft, as one of the important contributors to H.264 standard, decides to continually support it in Windows operating system and IE9 browsers. Apple also stands by H.264 and said the H.264 video technology will become the alternative products of Adobe Flash.

However, Mozilla and Opera have different voices. They disapprove H.264 format. In addition, the insiders who establish the the technical specification of HTML5 also said, network video standard should not only choose specific codec.

Insiders said, WebM project may help reduce the conflict between Ogg Theora and H.264. But if WebM can not get the support from Microsoft and Apple, it is very hard to be the actual network video standard. Apple hasn’t comment on Google’s release of WebM project yet.

Highly recommended by Mozilla

Mozilla preachers Chris Blizzard wrote in blog on Wednesday: “VP8 is superior to Ogg Theora speaking of codec quality, and it can compete with H.264 speaking of picture quality. We will support WebM in Firefox, and today we released the beta Firefox 4.0, with the early support to WebM.”

Opera also launched a beta browser which supports WebM format. Opera CTO Hakon Wium Lie said: “HTML, CSS and JavaScript have never had patent, Internet should always be open.

Although the video function of HTML5 standard may be a significant threat to Adobe Flash, Google and Adobe are already in the alliance and Google has decided to integrate Flash to its Chrome browser. Because of this, Adobe CTO Kevin Lynch said on Wednesday that Flash player will be integrated with VP8 function and the new product is set to be released within one year.

You may be also interested in:

Recommend Several Flash Standalone Players under Linux

How to Delet Flash SWF Cache under Firefox

The Contradiction between Adobe and Apple is Getting Fierce

According to foreign media reports, Adobe company delivered an advertisement and open letter on May, 13th, strongly accused Apple for strangling the competition. Apple previously had made it very clear that the Adobe software applications were totally banned on iPad and iPhone.

Adobe said in the advertisement: “We like Apple. What we don’t like is the person who grabs your freedom to choose. You definitely have the freedom to choose what are you going to create, how to create, and what to experience on the internet.” Adobe also bought a full-page on Washington Post today, gave all the details about this dispute between Adobe and Apple. At the end of the open letter were the signatures of co-founder Geschke Chuck and John Warnock.

In this letter, Adobe declared: “the essence of the problem lies in: who is the real controllor of Internet? We think the answer is the Internet users, rather than any of the powerful company.”

It is reported recently that Apple is developing the Flash-alternative project Gianduia, which was revealed in WWDC(Worldwide Developers Conference) last year.. Apple has said it will support HTML5, JavaScript and CSS, but not Flash.

The insiders think the Adobe open letter is a strong evidence that the divergence between Adobe and Apple is getting worse. Two weeks ago, the CEO of Apple just issued a 29-paragraph-long article to accuse Adobe Flash for “major technology defect”. It is said that Adobe has officially sued to America Anti-Monopoly Government Department and it may investigate this case accordingly. This means the contradiction between the two is intensified thoroughly.

Some useful links for your reference if you want to convert flash SWF to other popular video/audio/picture formats.

http://www.swfkits.com/swf_to_video/
http://www.swfkits.com/swf_to_avi/

XP Users are Recommended to Upgrade Flash Player

According to foreign media reports, Microsoft has urged its Windows XP users to upgrade the pre-loaded Adobe Flash Player 6.0 due to multiple security flaws on Tuesday.

Microsoft has released the #979267 safety proposal to urge its users either upgrade to the latest version of Flash Player or unload the old one due to several security flaws found in the early 6.0 version.

It’s very rare that Microsoft would propose safety advice for third-party products. It does so because the Adobe Flash Player 6.0 is pre-loaded in Microsoft Windows XP and it’s necessary to remind users that Adobe had stopped supporting Flash Player 6.0 since 2006. The latest version of Flash Player is 10.0.42.34.

Microsoft’s purpose is very clear, they hope the users understand that the security flaw only occurs when the old version of flash player and old Windows are used at the same time, because the new Windows are without built-in Flash Player yet.

Microsoft said: “Adobe Flash Player 6.0 is provided at the same time with Windows XP, it contains several security flaws that may execute remote control code when browsing some specially-made webpages. Adobe has fixed those vulnerabilities in the latest Flash Player. Microsoft strongly recommends to upgrade to the latest Flash Player for those who is still using the old version of Windows XP and Adobe Flash Player 6.0.”. Nevertheless, Microsoft indicates that there is no attack found so far related to those security flaws.

This security proposal is released for Adobe Flash Player 6.0 and together with other security vulnerabilities on Tuesday. The service pack this time will affect all the Windows system, but only the Windows 2000 is catalogued to “Critical” level while other subsequent versions of Windows are put to “Low”, so the Flash issue is more important and with higher priority.

Firefox Plugin Detection Mechanism Leads to 10 Million Flash Downloading

According to the foreign media reports, Firefox developer Mozilla said recently that the newly-released Firefox upgraded version with flash auto-detect mechanism has led to 10 million latest flash downloading from Adobe website in a week.

Mozilla released Firefox latest upgraded version 3.5.3 and 3.0.14 last week which perfectly fixed three critical security flaws in the previous version. In addition, in order to prevent attackers using Firefox plugin flaw to attack its users, new versions will initially detect whether the flash player that Firefox using is the latest or not.

Mitchell Baker, chairman of Mozilla, said that in the last week, about 1/3 new version users have downloaded the latest flash player from Adobe after seeing the reminding message. “User response rate is very high, usually the response rate is only 5% when they see software upgrade information.”, Mitchell said.

Mozilla security team personnel Jonathan Nightingale explains that the fact a large number of Firefox users would like to update flash player indicates the importance of network security issues. He said last week the reason why new Firefox has to detect whether the flash player it is using the latest version or not is: first, flash player is very popular; second, 80% Firefox users are still using the old version flash player according to a corresponding survey.

Adobe company also confirmed that the visitors of flash player upgrading webpage in the past week had a rapid growth. Adobe products security and privacy department director Brad Arkin appreciated the latest detecting mechanism very much by saying “For Adobe, it’s definitely a good thing for massive users to have the upgraded flash, it assures their security and we are very happy to see Mozilla sending the flash upgrading message to its users.”

P.S. You may be also interested in another blog about How to Delet Flash SWF Cache under Firefox.

Watch Flash Safely-Be Aware of Flash Virus

Flash is a very common format used to deliver animations over Internet. Flash brings us a lot fun but at the same time, flash viewers have to concern the security issues as well. The first flash file virus WF/LFM.926 appeared in early 2002 but was fortunately refused by patch tools emergently released from Macromedia company. However, just after two years in November, 26th, 2004, another new virus DJ2005 (Win32.Troj.QQMydj2005) which can be downloaded automatically with the flash file was found. When you are browsing the exquisite flash files, be extremely careful if another website is opened simultaneously or an irrelevant program is downloaded automatically, because that might be the virus! It can modify explorer. exe process and registry, besides, it can also send messages through QQ to cajole other users.

Strategies: first, scan DJ2005 trojans through free online virus check http://scan.kingsoft.com/; second, make sure your virus database is up to date to prevent any new virus; third, make sure your flash player, flash converter or other flash relevant programs are clean and safe, 100% virus free.