I don't have adobe flash player installed, and don't miss the flashing ads a bit.
The only thing that annoys me: IE8 keeps asking me "this web site wants to install Adobe Flash Player", and I want to get rid of this question. I don't want to install it, not now, not ever.
So how do I make IE stop asking me about it?
Best Answer
In Local Group Policy Editor there is now (as of July 2015) a specific option to disable Flash.
From Start, type "Group policy" and you will see Edit Group Policy in Control Panel. Open it and navigate to: Comnputer Configuration->Administrative Templates->Windows components->Internet Explorer->Security features->Add-on Management and you will see the magic setting:
"Turn off Adobe Flash in Internet Explorer and prevent applications from...etc"
Double Click it, set to enabled from "not configured" and close group policy. Restart ie or the pc.
Note: There is a similar setting in the "User configuration" tree in group policy. I suppose this can also be a per-user setting.