How To Fix 'Blocked Plug-in' in Safari
For years, plug-ins have been helpful components intended to expand the functionality of programs such as Web browsers. They were essential for various content types to be supported and displayed properly. However, most plug-ins have been released by third parties and have become associated with system vulnerabilities and security issues historically. As such, many browsers have begun moving away from the need for plug-ins by natively integrating a lot of that functionality.
Still, users may encounter a 'Blocked Plug-in' error message in Safari. Usually, the message indicates that the system has stopped a specific plug-in from executing. In most cases, an incompatibility issue between the browser and the version of the plug-in might have been detected. You can try updating either the Safari browser or the malfunctioning plug-in, depending on which one has an update available. You also can try to enable it in the browser manually:
- Select the Safari menu.
- Choose 'Preferences.'
- Select the 'Websites' tab.
- Go to the list of installed plug-ins, select the one you want, and check its corresponding box to enable it.
'Blocked Plug-in' could Indicate Threatening Actions
The presence of the 'Blocked Plug-in' may not always be a signal of a benign problem. It also could be exploited by a corrupted application or a browser extension, in an attempt to trick the user. If such applications are present on the Mac, they could show fake 'Blocked Plug-in' errors that urge the user to update a specific plug-in by clicking on the 'conveniently' provided button. Doing so could trigger a redirect to a questionable or unsafe website. Users may land on online tactics, fake giveaways, phishing pages, or domains promoting PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs). The scheme also could lead to serious malware threats. To mitigate the chances of such negative outcomes, it is recommended to perform thorough scans of your Mac with a professional security solution regularly.