Adobe Flash Player discontinued after over 20 years on the internet

ADOBE Flash Player, the browser plug-in behind countless animations on the internet, has finally been discontinued.

It was the fastest and simplest way to stream video and play games in the early days of the dial-up internet.

But its use has declined steeply as it became plagued with security problems.

Its fate was sealed as it failed to keep pace with the switch to mobile technology and Apple refused to use it.

Customers will no longer receive security updates or support for Adobe Flash Player on Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer 11.

Adobe has told users to uninstall Flash Player, which launched in 1996.

In a farewell post, it said: “We are proud that Flash had a crucial role in evolving web content across animation, interactivity, audio, and video.”

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs wrote a critical open letter in April 2010 - called Thoughts On Flash - detailing why it would not be allowed to run on products such as iPhones and iPads.

He said Flash did not suit touchscreens and he cited security, battery life and user experience as other issues.

By 2015 Google’s Chrome had started blocking some pieces of its content.

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