Adobe announced that a critical vulnerability in its Flash Player can allow someone who exploits it to “take control of the affected system.” That’s the bad news.
The good news is that the company has already released a security update that plugs the hole. However, depending on which Web browser you use, you may have to apply the fix manually, according to this report.
If you use Google Chrome, Internet Explorer 10, or Internet Explorer 11, you’re in the clear. Those browsers will reportedly apply the patch automatically, protecting you from threats related to this Flash Player exploit. However, if you use any other browsers, like Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Safari, or Internet Explorer 9 (or older), then you’re going to have to do the work yourself. Don’t worry, this doesn’t require any heavy lifting.
You can download the latest version of Adobe Flash here. If your computer prompts you to update Flash, do so immediately. If you have Flash Player installed in Windows 8.1, search for it by typing “Flash Player” in the tiled Start screen, click on “Flash Player,” and open the “Advanced” tab. There, you should be able to manually update the software by clicking the “Check Now” button.
