84,488,480 programs installed

Should I remove Adobe Flash Player ActiveX?

What percent of users and experts removed it?
9% remove it91% keep it
Overall Sentiment
Good
What do people think about it?
(click star to rate)
How common is it?
Global Rank #1,615
United States Rank #2,109
Reach 0.4215%
Lifespan of installation (until removal)
< 14.35 days
423.25 days >
Average installed length: 222.39 days

Versions

VersionDistribution
10.0.1.218 0.97%
10.0.0.525 0.34%
9.0.289.0 0.18%
9.0.283.0 0.04%
9.0.280.0 0.10%
9.0.277.0 0.05%
9.0.262.0 0.97%
9.0.260.0 0.01%
9.0.246.0 0.10%
9.0.159.0 0.01%
9.0.151.0 0.40%
9.0.124.0 63.67%
9.0.115.0 12.43%
9.0.64.0 0.07%
9.0.60.184 0.05%
9.0.60.120 0.01%
9.0.47.0 16.10%
9.0.45.0 4.49%

Other programs by Adobe Systems

Adobe Flash Player ActiveX

What is Adobe Flash Player ActiveX?

The Adobe Flash Player ActiveX is software for viewing multimedia, Rich Internet Applications, and streaming video and audio, on a computer web browser. Flash Player runs SWF files that can be created by the Adobe Flash authoring tool, by Adobe Flex or by a number of other Macromedia and third party tools. Flash Player is freely available as a plugin for recent versions of web browsers (such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, and Safari) on selected platforms. Google Chrome integrated the player into the distribution. Each version of the plugin is backwards-compatible.

Overview

The most used version is 9.0.124.0, with over 98% of all installations currently using this version. During setup, the program registers itself to launch on boot through a Windows Schedule Task in order to automatically start-up. It adds a background controller service that is set to automatically run. Delaying the start of this service is possible through the service manager. A scheduled task is added to Windows Task Scheduler in order to launch the program at various scheduled times (the schedule varies depending on the version). The software is designed to connect to the Internet and adds a Windows Firewall exception in order to do so without being interfered with. The main program executable is flash.ocx. The software installer includes 220 files and is usually about 19.48 MB (20,428,709 bytes). The Adobe Flash Player Update Service (FlashPlayerUpdateService.exe) included with the Flash Player is set to run once per day if Flash Player has been configured during installation to install updates automatically when available.

Program detailsProgram details

URL: www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer
Help link: www.adobe.com/go/flashplayer_support
Installation folder: C:\Windows\System32\macromed\flash
Uninstaller: C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\uninstall_activeX.exe
Estimated size: 19.48 MB

Program filesFiles installed by Adobe Flash Player ActiveX

Program executable:flash.ocx
Name:Shockwave Flash
Macromedia Flash Player 6.0 r79
Signed by:Macromedia
Path:C:\Windows\System32\macromed\flash\flash.ocx
MD5:1240074b72b4f6f2d6aee92db1d29aed
The Shockwave Player allows you to view interactive web content like games, business presentations, entertainment, and advertisements from your web browser. This is the plug-in specifically for Internet Explorer and runs as an integrated...
Additional files:
  • FlashUtil32_11_2_202_235_Plugin.exe - Adobe® Flash® Player Installer/Uninstaller (Adobe® Flash® Player Installer/Uninstaller 11.2 r202)
  • FlashUtil32_11_3_300_257_Plugin.exe - Adobe® Flash® Player Installer/Uninstaller 11.3 r300
  • FlashUtil32_11_3_300_262_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil32_11_3_300_265_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil32_11_3_300_268_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil32_11_3_300_271_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil32_11_4_402_265_ActiveX.exe - Adobe® Flash® Player Installer/Uninstaller 11.4 r402
  • FlashUtil32_11_4_402_265_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil32_11_4_402_278_ActiveX.exe
  • FlashUtil32_11_4_402_278_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil32_11_5_502_110_Plugin.exe - Adobe® Flash® Player Installer/Uninstaller 11.5 r502
  • FlashUtil32_11_5_502_135_ActiveX.exe
  • FlashUtil32_11_5_502_146_ActiveX.exe
  • FlashUtil32_11_5_502_149_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil32_11_6_602_168_Plugin.exe - Adobe® Flash® Player Installer/Uninstaller 11.6 r602
  • FlashUtil32_11_6_602_171_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil32_11_6_602_180_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil32_11_7_700_169_Plugin.exe - Adobe® Flash® Player Installer/Uninstaller 11.7 r700
  • FlashUtil32_11_7_700_202_ActiveX.exe
  • FlashUtil32_11_7_700_224_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil32_11_8_800_168_Plugin.exe - Adobe® Flash® Player Installer/Uninstaller 11.8 r800
  • FlashUtil32_11_8_800_94_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil32_11_9_900_117_Plugin.exe - Adobe® Flash® Player Installer/Uninstaller 11.9 r900
  • FlashUtil32_11_9_900_152_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil32_11_9_900_170_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil32_12_0_0_43_Plugin.exe - Adobe® Flash® Player Installer/Uninstaller 12.0 r0
  • FlashUtil32_12_0_0_44_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil32_12_0_0_70_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil32_12_0_0_77_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil32_13_0_0_182_Plugin.exe - Adobe® Flash® Player Installer/Uninstaller 13.0 r0
  • FlashUtil32_13_0_0_206_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil32_13_0_0_214_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil32_14_0_0_125_Plugin.exe - Adobe® Flash® Player Installer/Uninstaller 14.0 r0
  • FlashUtil32_14_0_0_145_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil32_14_0_0_179_Plugin.exe
  • FlashPlayerUpdateService.exe - Adobe® Flash® Player Update Service (Adobe® Flash® Player Update Service 13.0 r0)
  • FlashUtil10h_Plugin.exe - Flash® Player Installer/Uninstaller (Adobe® Flash® Player Installer/Uninstaller 10.1 r53)
  • FlashUtil10i_Plugin.exe - Adobe® Flash® Player Installer/Uninstaller 10.1 r82
  • FlashUtil10l_Plugin.exe - Adobe® Flash® Player Installer/Uninstaller 10.1 r102
  • FlashUtil10n_Plugin.exe - Adobe® Flash® Player Installer/Uninstaller 10.2 r152
  • FlashUtil10o_Plugin.exe - Adobe® Flash® Player Installer/Uninstaller 10.2 r153
  • FlashUtil10p_Plugin.exe - Adobe® Flash® Player Installer/Uninstaller 10.2 r159
  • FlashUtil10q_Plugin.exe - Adobe® Flash® Player Installer/Uninstaller 10.3 r181
  • FlashUtil10t_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil10u_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil10w_Plugin.exe - Adobe® Flash® Player Installer/Uninstaller 10.3 r183
  • FlashUtil10x_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil10y_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil10zq_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil11e_ActiveX.exe - Adobe® Flash® Player Installer/Uninstaller 11.1 r102
  • FlashUtil11e_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil11f_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil11g_Plugin.exe
  • FlashUtil_ActiveX.exe - Adobe® Flash® Player Utility
  • uninstall_activeX.exe - Adobe® Flash® Player ActiveX (Adobe® Flash® Player ActiveX Installer)
  • uninstall_plugin.exe - Adobe® Flash® Player Plugin (Adobe® Flash® Player Plugin Installer)
  • GetFlash.exe - Shockwave Flash Updater (Adobe Flash Player Updater 9.0 r16)
  • FlashUtil_ActiveX.dll - Flash Player Helper (Adobe Flash Player Helper 11.9 r900)
  • FlashUtil10.exe - Adobe Flash Player Helper 10.0 b218
  • FlashUtil10a.exe - Adobe Flash Player Helper 10.0 r12

Program behaviorsBehaviors exhibited

32 Google Chrome Plugins
  • NPSWF32_14_0_0_179.dll is loaded in the Google Chrome web browser as 'NPSWF32_14_0_0_179.dll'.
  • NPSWF32_14_0_0_145.dll is loaded in the Google Chrome web browser as 'NPSWF32_14_0_0_145.dll'.
  • NPSWF32.dll is loaded in the Google Chrome web browser as 'NPSWF32.dll'.
  • NPSWF32_14_0_0_125.dll is loaded in the Google Chrome web browser as 'NPSWF32_14_0_0_125.dll'.
  • NPSWF32_13_0_0_214.dll is loaded in the Google Chrome web browser as 'NPSWF32_13_0_0_214.dll'.
  • NPSWF32_13_0_0_206.dll is loaded in the Google Chrome web browser as 'NPSWF32_13_0_0_206.dll'.
  • Plus 26 more
10 Mozilla Plugins
  • NPSWF32.dll is loaded into Mozilla Firefox under the product name 'Adobe Flash Player 10.1 Pluginl' with a plugin key of '@adobe.com/FlashPlayer' for all users of the PC.
  • NPSWF32_11_9_900_117.dll is loaded into Mozilla Firefox under the product name 'AdobeR FlashR Player 11.9.900.117 Plugin' with a plugin key of '@adobe.com/FlashPlayer' for all users of the PC.
  • NPSWF32_14_0_0_179.dll is loaded into Mozilla Firefox under the product name 'AdobeR FlashR Player 14.0.0.179 Plugin' with a plugin key of '@adobe.com/FlashPlayer' for all users of the PC.
  • NPSWF32_14_0_0_145.dll is loaded into Mozilla Firefox under the product name '@adobe.com/FlashPlayer' with a plugin key of '@adobe.com/FlashPlayer' for all users of the PC.
  • NPSWF32_13_0_0_214.dll is loaded into Mozilla Firefox under the product name '@adobe.com/FlashPlayer' with a plugin key of '@adobe.com/FlashPlayer' for all users of the PC.
  • NPSWF32_11_9_900_152.dll is loaded into Mozilla Firefox under the product name 'AdobeR FlashR Player 11.9.900.152 Plugin' with a plugin key of '@adobe.com/FlashPlayer' for all users of the PC.
  • Plus 4 more
Scheduled Task
  • FlashPlayerUpdateService.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{02632001-94C6-4E41-9A43-B08073ECE259}' (runs on registration).
Scheduled Task (Boot/Login)
  • FlashPlayerUpdateService.exe is automatically launched at startup through a scheduled task named Adobe Flash Player Updater.
Service
  • FlashPlayerUpdateService.exe runs as a service named 'Adobe Flash Player Update Service' (AdobeFlashPlayerUpdateSvc) "This service keeps your Adobe Flash Player installation up to date with the latest enhancements and security fixes.".
59 Startup Files (User Run Once)
  • NPSWF32_FlashUtil.exe is loaded once in the current user (HKCU) registry as a startup file name 'FlashPlayerUpdate' which loads as C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\NPSWF32_FlashUtil.exe -p.
  • FlashUtil9c.exe is loaded once in the current user (HKCU) registry as a startup file name 'FlashPlayerUpdate' which loads as C:\WINDOWS\system32\Macromed\Flash\FlashUtil9c.exe.
  • FlashUtil32_14_0_0_179_Plugin.exe is loaded once in the current user (HKCU) registry as a startup file name 'FlashPlayerUpdate' which loads as C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash\FlashUtil32_14_0_0_179_Plugin.exe -update plugin.
  • GetFlash.exe is loaded once in the current user (HKCU) registry as a startup file name 'FlashPlayerUpdate' which loads as C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\GetFlash.exe.
  • FlashUtil32_14_0_0_145_Plugin.exe is loaded once in the current user (HKCU) registry as a startup file name 'FlashPlayerUpdate' which loads as C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash\FlashUtil32_14_0_0_145_Plugin.exe -update plugin.
  • FlashUtil32_14_0_0_125_Plugin.exe is loaded once in the current user (HKCU) registry as a startup file name 'FlashPlayerUpdate' which loads as C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash\FlashUtil32_14_0_0_125_Plugin.exe -update plugin.
  • Plus 53 more
3 Windows Firewall Allowed Programs
  • FlashUtil32_12_0_0_44_Plugin.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\WINXP\system32\Macromed\Flash\FlashUtil32_12_0_0_44_Plugin.exe'.
  • FlashPlayerPlugin_12_0_0_77.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash\FlashPlayerPlugin_12_0_0_77.exe'.
  • FlashPlayerPlugin_11_8_800_94.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash\FlashPlayerPlugin_11_8_800_94.exe'.
Network connections
  • FlashPlayerUpdateService.exe connects to a65-32-34-57.deploy.akamaitechnologies.com (65.32.34.57 port 80).

Program resource utilizationResource utilization averages

FlashUtil32_11_4_402_265_ActiveX.exe
Memory:2.42 MB
21.09 MB average
Total CPU:0.0438570654%
0.031193% average
Kernel CPU:0.02929838%
0.016088% average
User CPU:0.01455869%
0.015104% average
CPU cycles/sec:259,322
8,062,084 average
I/O reads/min:523 Bytes
435.61 KB average
I/O writes/min:196 Bytes
105.02 KB average
FlashUtil32_11_5_502_135_ActiveX.exe
Memory:3.12 MB
Total CPU:0.0101839481%
Kernel CPU:0.00551223%
User CPU:0.00467172%
CPU cycles/sec:1,796,671
Switches/sec:138
I/O reads/min:5.49 KB
I/O writes/min:668 Bytes
FlashUtil32_11_5_502_146_ActiveX.exe
Memory:3.09 MB
Total CPU:0.0089397281%
Kernel CPU:0.00486633%
User CPU:0.00407339%
CPU cycles/sec:330,322
Switches/sec:27
I/O reads/min:4.33 KB
I/O writes/min:174 Bytes

How do I remove Adobe Flash Player ActiveX?

You can uninstall Adobe Flash Player ActiveX from your computer by using the Add/Remove Program feature in the Window's Control Panel.
  1. On the Start menu (for Windows 8, right-click the screen's bottom-left corner), click Control Panel, and then, under Programs, do one of the following:
    • Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall a Program.
    • Windows XP: Click Add or Remove Programs.
  2. When you find the program Adobe Flash Player ActiveX, click it, and then do one of the following:
    • Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall.
    • Windows XP: Click the Remove or Change/Remove tab (to the right of the program).
  3. Follow the prompts. A progress bar shows you how long it will take to remove Adobe Flash Player ActiveX.

How do I reset my web browser?

If your web browser homepage and search settings have been modfied by Adobe Flash Player ActiveX you can restore them to their previous default settings.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Mozilla Firefox
Google Chrome

OS VERSIONS
Win 7 (SP1) 35%
Win 7 0%
 
HOW IT RUNS
Windows Service? Yes
(Installs a service)
 
USER ACTIONS
Uninstall it 9%
Keep it 91%

Windows OS versionsWindows

Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
Windows 7 43.88%
Windows Vista 35.44%
Windows XP 16.90%
Windows 10 3.73%
Windows Server 2003 0.05%
Which OS releases does it run on?
Windows Vista Home Premiu... 27.85%
Windows 7 Ultimate 18.45%
Microsoft Windows XP 16.61%
Windows 7 Home Premium 14.31%
Windows 7 Professional 7.96%
Windows Vista Home Basic 6.16%

Distribution by countryGeography

36.81% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
  United States 36.81%
  Germany 7.45%
  France 6.30%
  United Kingdom 5.61%
  Italy 3.19%
  MA 3.13%
  Canada 3.06%
  Iran 2.79%
  India 1.76%
  Australia 1.66%
  Poland 1.57%
  Spain 1.49%
  Brazil 1.44%
  DZ 1.43%

OEM distributionPC manufacturers

What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
Hewlett-Packard 31.35%
Acer 16.93%
Dell 16.27%
Samsung 8.29%
Toshiba 7.85%
GIGABYTE 7.02%
ASUS 3.77%
Intel 2.31%
American Megatrends 1.97%
Lenovo 1.46%
Sahara 1.32%
Medion 0.79%
Common models
Hewlett-Packard Compaq Pr... 5.49%
HP Pavilion dv6700 Notebo... 4.86%
HP G60 Notebook PC 3.77%
HP Pavilion dv5 Notebook ... 3.52%
Samsung R530/R730 3.31%
HP Pavilion dv7 Notebook ... 3.10%

About Adobe Systems

Adobe Systems Incorporated is computer program company focused on the creation of multimedia & creativity program products, with a more-recent foray towards rich Net application program development.
Publisher URL: www.adobe.com

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