Plug Ins
 

Recently while using my Mint 18.2 I have visited websites where a a video was presented. When I clicked "play" got a message that a plug in was required. I can play youtube OK from this platform?

Yes.

If it's an HTML5 video, any contemporary browser should play it.

If it's flash video, you can install Adobe Flash. This article explains several ways to do that: http://www.wikihow.com/Upgrade-Adobe...-on-Linux-Mint

I normally get Flash from the Adobe website, decompress the file, and then, as root, copy libflashplayer.so to /usr/lib[64]/mozilla/plugins.

It is my (very limited) understanding that Adobe Flash has fallen out of favor due to it's inherent vulnerability to malicious cyber attacks,,,,my main reason for trying Linux is increased security,,,,so,,,wouldn't installing Adobe Flash be defeating the purpose?

""" decompress the file, and then, as root, copy libflashplayer.so to /usr/lib[64]/mozilla/plugins""",,,,,totally greek to a newbie,,,?????

Adobe flash has indeed fallen out of favor because of real and repeated security flaws. Adobe has announced an end-of-life date for Flash, I think three years hence. Furthermore, Mozilla has been waging a relentless campaign to make using Flash as annoying as possible.

Nevertheless, a lot of legitimate video content is in Flash format, and, as far as I am concerned, users should have access to it if they wish to. If I can help them, I shall.

If it actually flash that the site says you need? If so, and if you want to stick to Firefox, then go to the first link given in post 2 above and follow the instructions at "Method 3 Firefox".