Ticking down till the end of days, proprietary plugin Adobe Flash Player is still in use by 6.0% of all websites according to W3Techs.com.
Flash’s depreciation by all major web browsers, security vulnerabilities, performance problems, and cross-device incompatibility are yet to deter a stubborn minority of users. Yet OTT providers would be advised to leave Flash, and other proprietary plugins such as Silverlight, behind as soon as possible – before Adobe end-of-lifes Flash in 2020 and Microsoft end-of-lifes Silverlight in 2021.
Current State of Play
We first reported on Flash’s impending demise last September, following a security alert from Google’s researchers that could allow hackers to remotely control Windows OS computers. On average, Adobe has handled 10 security vulnerabilities concerning Flash a month since September 2016, with 91.3% of these vulnerabilities deemed critical according to data from CVE Details.
Microsoft’s Silverlight has fallen much further in this time, now in use across just 0.1% of websites, primarily due to NPAPI support being dropped by all major browsers except Safari.
| Browser | Flash support | Silverlight support | HTML5 support |
|---|---|---|---|
Chrome™ |
2017-2019: Asks permission to run, eventually disabling Flash by default.
2020: Support removed. Source: Google Chrome Blog |
Silverlight is not supported
(Chrome 45 fully dropped NPAPI support) |
HTML5/EME via Google Widevine CDM |
Firefox® |
2017: User chooses which sites activate Flash. Firefox for Android: removal of support. 2018: Request permission for each session. Early 2019: Will display special warning for sites that use Flash. Late 2019: Disabled by default. 2020: Support removed. Sources: Flash End of Life Roadmap from Firefox Blog and Plugin Roadmap from Mozilla Developer Blog |
Silverlight is not supported (Firefox 52 fully dropped NPAPI support) |
HTML5/EME via Google Widevine CDM |
Safari® |
Disabled by default with permission requested before running.
Source: Webkit.org Blog |
HTML5/EME via Apple FairPlay Streaming CDM | |
Edge |
2017-2018: Requires permission to run on most sites on first visit.
Mid to late 2018: Will request permission for each session. 2019: Disabled by default. When re-enabled, will require approval on a site-by-site basis. 2020: Support removed. Source: Windows Blog |
Silverlight is not supported | HTML5/EME via Microsoft PlayReady CDM |
Internet Explorer® * |
2017-2018: Plays regularly.
2019: Disabled by default. When re-enabled, will require approval on a site-by-site basis. 2020: Support removed. Source: Windows Blog |
Plays regularly
2021: Support removed. |
HTML5/EME via Microsoft PlayReady CDM (IE11 on Win 8.1+ only) |
* Only Internet Explorer 11 continues to receive support on Windows 7-10 – source.
In a nutshell, all major browsers refuse to load Flash objects as default and Flash’s contemporary Silverlight is almost extinguished.
Some video streaming services to this day continue to rely on outdated plugins for playback. As legacy compatibility dwindles, modern browsers are increasingly not able to play content from these services. This leads to an alienated user-base as it is becomes difficult for customers to consume content from obsolete player technology. A move towards HTML5-based playback is inevitable to retain audiences.
Stop the clock! Move to HTML5
Streaming services continue to adopt HTML5 standards for video playback, moving away from legacy technologies – and for good reason. You too can make the switch, benefiting from improved video performance and enhanced compatibility with user devices.
Modernizing your playback technology through our PRESTOplay video player SDK for Browsers allows you to retain your DRM-encrypted MPEG-DASH and HLS content formats for use in HTML5 with zero fileset modifications needed.
Native Windows and macOS Desktop Apps
Want to reach Windows and macOS users with modern HTML5/JS/CSS playback technology as standalone OS apps? Check our PRESTOplay SDK for Desktops.
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