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Firefox adding click-to-play for Silverlight, Java, Adobe Reader, and outdated versions of Flash

Firefox adding click-to-play for Silverlight, Java, Adobe Reader, and outdated versions of Flash

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Firefox click to play
Firefox click to play

Firefox will begin blocking plugins like Microsoft Silverlight, Java, Adobe Reader, and all but the newest version of Flash in an attempt to make its browser faster and more secure. Users will be able to activate plugins individually using click-to-play, the same way Chrome handles Flash videos in its current version. In a recent blog post, Firefox's director of security assurance, Michael Coates, explained that third-party plugins are the number one cause of Firefox crashes, and the new click-to-play system will reduce memory usage and protect users from exploits that take advantage of vulnerable plugins. While there's no word yet on how soon this change will be implemented, Coates says older versions of Flash will be the first to be blocked and other plugins will follow.