Flash Player files sometimes start in background-using TB-without user action
For several Torbrowser versions & Flash Player versions, I've randomly found flash files running in background, when no Flash content was played, nor was there any user request to start Flash player or download / install it.
It's happened perhaps 12 or more times, easily. It took a long time to figure out what may trigger the files to start in background.
In both TB & vanilla Fx, the Flash plugin is & always has been disabled. The only reason it's installed, is for rare use in vanilla Fx. No way to "uninstall" it only for Torbrowser.
- Maybe there should be a method, by default, to block Flash plugin from automatically showing under Torbrowser, if Flash is installed for other "plugin-based browsers." Unless users specifically request it.
I'm reporting this, because others may use Flash in Firefox & may be unaware if Flash files start running in background under TB (if it actually happened). I may just uninstall Flash, but this still needs reporting.
I finally determined when the flash files start in background, it's (sometimes) very soon after page was visited that had flash content. But it doesn't happen on all pages w/ flash content (where Flash files wind up not being played, by any method, e.g., html5).
I do NOT play or attempt to play the flash files in TB, the times when Flash files start running. On the sites where the files DO start in background, appears all I must do is LOAD the page w/ flash content.
The websites report that Flash is disabled or not installed (it IS always disabled).
The times the files start in background, I did NOT play any Flash content in IE (don't use it), or vanilla Fx. I've confirmed that many times.
Besides, the processes are ALWAYS listed under the TB Plugin Manager process, never vanilla Fx.
I don't click anything on the webpages to download or install Flash. I don't attempt to play Flash content, then "back out" (would be impossible w/ Flash disabled).
The command line for one of the background files looks like: "C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash\FlashPlayerPlugin_12_0_0_77.exe" --channel=4128.0027F650.1150601763 --proxy-stub-channel=Flash5736.60497F48.24779 --plugin-path="C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash\NPSWF32_12_0_0_77.d ll" --host-npapi-version=27 --type=renderer
(this was for a previous Flash ver., but still does it w/ later ones)
Don't have the full command line for the 2nd Flash process, but it contains the same "FlashPlayerPlugin_x.x.x.exe...\NPSWF32x.x.x.dll."
Trac:
Username: joebt