

In the latter half of the last decade, Flash developed a rocky reputation for its rampant security flaws, many of which were zero-day exploits that put people at serious risk. They are (were) maintained by a single entity that seeded all updates and fixes. Plugins, like Flash, the long-dead Silverlight, and the infamous Java browser plugin, operate under a closed source development model. Anyone can look at source code and probe for exploits or implement the technology in their own projects. Adobe occasionally discontinues the sale, development of, or support for a product or technology as a result of changing market conditions and impact to customers. Learn which Adobe products have been discontinued, and what support resources are available. Open source technology is often held to a higher level of scrutiny. Free and discontinued products Support options. Unlike Flash, these open technologies don't require a third-party plugin. The web has been moving away from Flash for years as browser-based technologies, like HTML5, WebGL, and WebAssembly, become more widespread. Adobe announced that it will "stop updating and distributing the Flash Player at the end of 2020." The company encouraged content creators to migrate any existing Flash content to "new and open formats."
