macOS Sierra Closes Flash's Coffin Lid, Keeps Safari Plug-in Disabled

As if we don't already have a long enough list of reasons why Flash shouldn't be installed on our Macs, Apple is giving us yet another with the introduction of macOS Sierra: Flash in Safari will be disabled by default. That means the decreasing number of Websites relying on Flash, like the BBC, will finally realize we aren't living in 2002 any more.

Adobe's Flash is dead and blocked in macOS SierraAdobe's Flash is dead and blocked in macOS Sierra

Apple considers Flash a legacy plug-in and Safari in macOS Sierra will act as if it isn't installed. That goes for some other plug-ins such as Silverlight and QuickTime, too, but Apple is calling out Flash in its WebKit notes.

Since Flash isn't installed with Apple's operating systems, the only time someone should encounter a dialog asking if they want to temporarily enable the multimedia plug-in is if they explicitly install it themselves. Unless there's a specific reason why you need Flash, keeping it off your Mac is for the best.

Flash is a battery life killer and many Websites have already moved on to HTML5 for multimedia content, plus the platform is a major security risk. Flash-related security flaws are discovered faster than Adobe can patch them, and many are so serious that they completely expose user's computers to hackers—including personal data like passwords, photos, and bank account records.

To drive that point home: earlier this week a critical Flash security flaw was discovered that's already being exploited online. The exploit, from a hacker group dubbed "ScarCruft," gives attackers access to all kinds of data on victim's computers and currently is being used to target valuable data from high profile companies and organizations, but there isn't anything stopping the attackers from culling content from other computers, too.

Accidentally installed Flash? Safari in macOS Sierra keeps it disabled by defaultAccidentally installed Flash? Safari in macOS Sierra keeps it disabled by default

Adobe says a patch for the flaw is coming later this week, but that doesn't do much to help people who are already being targeted by hackers.

Considering Flash is seen as more of a blight on the internet instead of a useful platform, it's time to delete it from your computer—assuming you ever installed it. For sites you rely on that still require Flash, let those companies know they need to ditch the platform or you'll move on to their competitors.

Apple abandoned Flash long ago, it isn't supported on pretty much any mobile device, and Google Chrome and Mozilla's Firefox Web browsers are dropping support. At this point Flash's coffin is more nail than wood.