Google Chrome will drop Flash for faster and safer web browsing

The final nail in Adobe Flash's coffin goes in later this year.

Google announced on its Chrome Blog that it will begin taking actions in September to deemphasize and then disable Flash by default.

Chrome 53 will block Flash and Chrome 55 in December will make HTML5 the default. For Flash-only websites (which apparently still exist) users will be prompted to install it. 

The reasons cited are not surprising. Google cited HTML5 as "lighter and faster" for loading websites and videos.

HTML5 is also more power-efficient and more secure than Flash. Any laptop users who use Chrome know all too well what a battery hog it is.

"You’ll see an improvement in responsiveness and efficiency for many sites," writes Anthony LaForge, the curator of Flash in Chrome.

Along with Apple's Safari browser blocking all Flash content in the upcoming macOS Sierra and Google ending Flash ads next year, this is it for Flash.

I think I speak for everyone when I say nobody will miss it. Though it was once useful, it has become a plague on all of our computers.

In recent years, Flash has become a security liability. In April, researchers discovered a security hole that allowed attackers to inject ransomware (software that essentially locks up your data and computer and demands a ransom to unlock it) in Windows PCs.

Adobe issued a security update to close the security flaw, but the fact remains: Flash leaves users extremely vulnerable.

Chrome's switch to HTML5 by the end of the year also reinforces Steve Jobs' (and Apple's) intense dislike of Flash. In 2010, Jobs penned an open letterstriking down Flash in favor of HTML5 for the very same reasons Google is now ditching Flash.

Besides, faster, safer and more efficient web browsing! This is a win for users.