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Re-activateAdobe is warning that a "critical vulnerability" has been discovered in its Flash Player software that could cause the computer or smart phone to crash--or worse, allow a hacker to gain control.
The company also warns that there have been reports that this vulnerability is already being exploited by hackers using a malicious Flash file (with an extension of .swf) embedded within a Microsoft Excel (.xls) spreadsheet file.
The affected Flash Player software versions are:
The company reports that it is working on a fix to the problem but most likely will not have it ready until sometime next week.
In the meantime, follow safe computer practices--including not downloading any files from unknown or untrusted sources. (And don't blindly trust files sent by friends, because they and their devices might have been hacked or otherwise compromised.)
You can find other online safety tips on Consumer Reports Guide to Online Security.
--Paul Eng
Security Advisory for Adobe Flash Player, Adobe Reader and Acrobat [Adobe]
Adobe Product Security Incident Response Team Blog [Adobe]
Adobe finds 'critical' security hole in Flash Player, won't fix it before next week [Engadget]
—Paul Eng
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