Microsoft to start blocking out-of-date Flash ActiveX controls from October 11

Microsoft today announced that they are expanding the out-of-date ActiveX control blocking feature to include outdated versions of Adobe Flash Player starting on October 11, 2016. When someone tries to load a website with Flash ActiveX control older than (but not including) the below will be notified.

• Adobe Flash Player version 21.0.0.198
• Adobe Flash Player Extended Support Release version 18.0.0.241

• Out-of-date Flash ActiveX control blocking only applies to Internet Explorer 11 on Windows 7 SP1 or Windows Server 2008 R2.
• First, with out-of-date Flash ActiveX control blocking, Internet Explorer will only warn you once per tab process. All subsequent out-of-date Flash ActiveX controls will be allowed.
• Second, users who are not members of the Local Administrators group on the PC will not see any out-of-date Flash ActiveX control blocks.
• Finally, the term of out-of-date Flash ActiveX control blocking will end on November 10, 2016.

Also, it is important to note that users running Windows Server 2012R2, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 are not impacted by this announcement. By default, Windows Update will automatically install important Flash updates as they become available for Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge on those PCs.