red binoculars in address bar says manage plugins on financial site
Hi - Some bank and credit card sites including AmEx display Red Binoculars with diagonal slash, indicating 'manage plug-ins'. Meanwhile Green Lock and HTTPS stuff all looks right. Is my security compromised? (I also have a Firefox tracking block on.)
There are mixed messages about security v. invasiveness of Adobe Flash (if that is, as it seems to be, what it's about??).. I'm never sure whether to "manage"/update or not. An option to X out of the plug-in is sometimes right there on the page - AS IF - the nonfunctioning plug-in pops back instantly. (Some are proponents of eliminating Adobe Flash from your computer, but that is evidently not simple as it sounds because it lurks - plus many consider Flash a good thing..)
(PS. I just tried to upload my screen shot of the address bar w/red binoculars, but got 10 mins of spinning..so I think you get the idea.)
(Also PPS, I just realized by hovering over the green lock on Firefox that it says Verified by Amazon. Is that correct?)
Modified by way2much
Chosen solution
For Mac, since you don't have Internet Explorer, Adobe's site should only offer you the NPAPI (Firefox-compatible) version of the plugin.
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Link where the error is happening?
Your Firefox reported version 28 of the Flash plugin, and the red notification icon probably means the page WANTS to use Flash but Firefox will not allow it because the plugin has become too out-of-date.
Please see: Flash Plugin - Keep it up to date and troubleshoot problems
way2much said
(Also PPS, I just realized by hovering over the green lock on Firefox that it says Verified by Amazon. Is that correct?)
I see that, too. It probably means that the support site is running on Amazon infrastructure at this time.
AmEx for example
Did you update Flash in the meantime?
You can check the version of the currently installed Flash plugin here:
The System Details list shows that you have an outdated Flash plugin, current is 31.0.0.108 (31.0 r0).
- Shockwave Flash 28.0 r0
You can find the installation path of a plugin on the about:plugins page.
You can download the latest NPAPI Flash plugin for Firefox on this page.
If you do not want to use Flash then disable the Flash plugin on the about:addons page (Never Activate).
Thank you both. I see that I must need to update Adobe flash, and will go through those steps as soon as I can focus.
If it doesn't work, I'll jump back on here - but somehow consensus seems to be telling me that it!
Older Flash plugins with security vulnerabilities are always blocked.
See:
So should I be doing the regular Adobe Flash #31 PLUS the NPAPI one?
Chosen Solution
For Mac, since you don't have Internet Explorer, Adobe's site should only offer you the NPAPI (Firefox-compatible) version of the plugin.
cor-el and jscher!
You did it. I updated and all looks better! Thank you SO much.
One last question - does the download of new Adobe Flash get rid of the old one(s), or do I need to do that? (I know I sound like I'm from vintage Planet 9!)
way2much said
One last question - does the download of new Adobe Flash get rid of the old one(s), or do I need to do that?
I don't know how it works on Mac, sorry. Unless you notice a problem, then it's probably good now.
You can check the about:plugins page or information about installed plugins.
Thanks - I will follow your advice !