Mac Flash uninstaller - How to uninstall Flash on Mac OS X (and Windows)

Mac Flash FAQ: How do I uninstall Flash on Mac OS X (10.4, 10.5, or 10.6)?

Adobe just announced a critical Flash security flaw (and in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x applications) that makes all operating systems vulnerable to attack, including Windows, Unix, and Mac OS X systems. While it may be an overreaction to the problem, I just investigated what it would take to uninstall Mac Flash (Flash on Mac OS X), and the operation is pretty simple.

How to uninstall Mac Flash

To uninstall Flash on Mac OS X, go to this Adobe URL, download the Flash Mac uninstaller, and then run the uninstaller. You'll probably have to close all your browsers before running the uninstaller, though I don't know that for sure. I just instinctively shut all mine down.

(Also, note that you can also get the Windows Flash uninstall application from that same URL, or you can use this URL instead.)

Adobe Reader, Acrobat, and Flash security bulletin

Here's the summary text from the Adobe security bulletin regarding this Adobe Reader, Acrobat, and Flash security vulnerability:

A critical vulnerability exists in Adobe Flash Player 10.1.85.3 and earlier versions for Windows, Macintosh, Linux and Solaris operating systems; Adobe Flash Player 10.1.95.2 and earlier versions for Android; and the authplay.dll component that ships with Adobe Reader 9.4 and earlier 9.x versions for Windows, Macintosh and UNIX operating systems, and Adobe Acrobat 9.4 and earlier 9.x versions for Windows and Macintosh operating systems.

This vulnerability (CVE-2010-3654) could cause a crash and potentially allow an attacker to take control of the affected system. There are reports that this vulnerability is being actively exploited in the wild against Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x. Adobe is not currently aware of attacks targeting Adobe Flash Player.

We are in the process of finalizing a fix for the issue and expect to provide an update for Flash Player 10.x for Windows, Macintosh, Linux, and Android by November 9, 2010.

A few words there are worth repeating and underlining: They do not expect a fix for this security vulnerability until November 9, 2010.

This incident won't do much for the reputation of Flash security. Somewhere, Steve Jobs is laughing ...