Google is going to block Flash content by default with its browser, Chrome, in favour of HTML5. The change is stated to happen in the fourth quarter of this year. The company’s reasoning is that, based on the maturity of HTML5 and its ability to provide a more integrated media experience with faster loading times and lower power consumption to boot, that there is no reason to keep using the older, less secure platform.
Chrome blocking Flash by default may increase security
Google will also make some exceptions for popular sites such as YouTube and Facebook for a year after the change, after of which their Flash content will be blocked by default. However, the ubiquitous web content player will continue to be provided with the Chrome Browser and sites that rely heavily on Flash will trigger a prompt for the user to enable Flash for that site, at least giving users a choice in how and when they enable it, giving more security into the hands of the user.
This change should also increase security for the browser, as the platform is known to be an attack vector for malicious code in most browsers. With plenty of security flaws listed on the platform. Another effect of the change in Google’s policy on the subject is that those annoying flash-based adverts and scripts that irritate many users will also be blocked. This will in a sense integrate some of the functions of popular plug-ins such as ‘Ad-block’, and may be very well-received by users.