Lock Down IE 10: Disable Flash in Windows 8

Disabling Adobe Flash Player in Internet Explorer on Windows 8

With Windows 8, Microsoft integrates Adobe Flash Player directly with their Internet Explorer browser. Historically, Flash has presented significant security risks due to numerous vulnerabilities.

Methods to Disable Flash Player

Two distinct approaches can be utilized to deactivate Flash. It is not necessary to implement both procedures; selecting one is sufficient.

The following outlines the steps to disable Flash within Internet Explorer, enhancing your system's security posture.

Method 1: Through Internet Explorer Settings

Internet Explorer provides a direct pathway to manage Flash settings. This allows for granular control over its operation.

Access Internet Explorer’s “Tools” menu.
Select “Manage add-ons”.
In the “Show” dropdown, choose “All add-ons”.
Locate “Shockwave Flash Object 2.0” in the list.
Select it, then click the “Disable” button.

Method 2: Utilizing Flash Player Settings Manager

The Adobe Flash Player Settings Manager offers another means of disabling the component. This provides a more comprehensive configuration interface.

Open the Adobe Flash Player Settings Manager.
Navigate to the “Security” tab.
Uncheck the box labeled “Allow Flash content to run”.
Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.

By following either of these methods, you can effectively disable Adobe Flash Player in Internet Explorer on Windows 8, mitigating potential security threats.

Disabling Flash Through Internet Explorer

One method to deactivate Flash content is by utilizing the add-on settings within Internet Explorer. Initially, it's necessary to initiate the desktop application of Internet Explorer.

Upon launching IE, locate and click the gear icon. From the subsequent menu, choose 'Manage add-ons'.

Following this, adjust the display settings. Change the view from 'Currently loaded add-ons' to 'All add-ons'.

Subsequently, identify the 'Shockwave Flash Object' add-on in the list on the right-hand side. Then, select the 'Disable' option.

This process effectively prevents Flash content from running within Internet Explorer. The Shockwave Flash Object will no longer be active.

Steps for Disabling Flash in IE

Launch the desktop version of Internet Explorer.
Access the 'Manage add-ons' section via the gear icon.
Switch the add-on view to 'All add-ons'.
Locate and disable the 'Shockwave Flash Object' add-on.

By completing these steps, you can enhance the security of your browsing experience by disabling potentially vulnerable Flash content within the Internet Explorer browser.

Utilizing Group Policy for Flash Control

An alternative approach to disabling Flash involves leveraging a local Group Policy Object. To begin, simultaneously press the Windows key and the 'R' key to open the Run dialog box. Then, type 'gpedit.msc' and press Enter.

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Navigate through the following path within the Group Policy Editor:

User Configuration\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Security Features\ Add-on Management

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Within the right-hand pane, locate the setting labeled “Turn off Adobe Flash in Internet Explorer and prevent applications from using Internet Explorer technology to instantiate Flash objects”. A double-click will open its configuration window.

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Change the radio button selection from “Not Configured” to “Enabled”. Subsequently, click the "OK" button to save the changes.

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To ensure the updated policy is applied to your system, open the Run dialog box again (Windows + R). Then, execute the following command:

gpupdate /force

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It is important to recognize that settings configured through Group Policy will always take precedence over any configurations made directly within the user interface.