If you have Adobe Flash installed, you’ll want to make sure it’s updated to the latest version as it patches a critical security vulnerability. According to The Register, confidential source code was stolen from Hacking Team and leaked online.
Within the leaked source code, software vulnerabilities used by Hacking Team to break into PCs was discovered. Source code for the vulnerabilities is out in the open which means you should update as soon as possible. You’re at risk if you use the following:
| Adobe Flash Player Desktop Runtime | 18.0.0.194 and earlier | Windows and Macintosh |
| Adobe Flash Player Extended Support Release | 13.0.0.296 and earlier | Windows and Macintosh |
| Adobe Flash Player for Google Chrome | 18.0.0.194 and earlier | Windows, Macintosh and Linux |
| Adobe Flash Player for Internet Explorer 10 and Internet Explorer 11 | 18.0.0.194 and earlier | Windows 8.0 and 8.1 |
| Adobe Flash Player | 11.2.202.468 and earlier | Linux |
| AIR Desktop Runtime | 18.0.0.144 and earlier | Windows and Macintosh |
| AIR SDK | 18.0.0.144 and earlier | Windows, Macintosh, Android and iOS |
| AIR SDK & Compiler | 18.0.0.144 and earlier | Windows, Macintosh, Android and iOS |
Visit Adobe’s Flash Player download page to determine which version you’re using and upgrade if necessary. In recent months, Adobe has fixed a series of security vulnerabilities in Flash. At this point, it may be safer to uninstall Flash all together.
Like most things if you keep stuff updated you are fine.