Apple Releases Safari 5.1.7, Disables Older Versions of Flash

Alongside the release of OS X 10.7.4, Apple has also released an update to Safari, bringing the version up to 5.1.7. One of the more notable aspects of the update is that it automatically disables older versions of Adobe Flash, and directs users to download the latest version from Adobe’s website.

From the release notes:

Safari 5.1.7 for OS X Lion and Safari 5.1.7 for OS X Snow Leopard disable out-of-date versions of Adobe Flash Player.

Out-of-date versions of Adobe Flash Player do not include the latest security updates and will be disabled to help keep your Mac secure. If Safari 5.1.7 detects an out-of-date version of Flash Player on your system, you will see a dialog informing you that Flash Player has been disabled. The dialog provides the option to go directly to Adobe’s website, where you can download and install an updated version of Flash Player.

While at first it may seem extreme for Apple to automatically disable previous versions of Flash Player, it’s worth noting that outdated versions of the player can pose significant security risks to users. Apple also provides a way for users to re-enable older versions of Flash Player at their own risk.

The update also includes the following improvements:

• Improve the browser’s responsiveness when the system is low on memory
• Fix an issue that could prevent webpages from responding after using a pinch to zoom gesture
• Fix an issue that could affect websites using forms to authenticate users

Safari 5.1.7 is available immediately through Software Update, and can also be downloaded directly from Apple’s Safari site.