US government tells computer users to disable Java

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is advising people to temporarily disable the Java software on their computers to avoid potential hacking attacks.

The recommendation came in an advisory issued late Thursday, following up on concerns raised by computer security experts.

Experts believe hackers have found a flaw in Java's coding that creates an opening for criminal activity and other high-tech mischief.

Java is a widely used technical language that allows computer programmers to write a wide variety of Internet applications and other software programs that can run on just about any computer's operating system.

FULL story at link.



Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130112/DA3OBDNO4.html

[TygrBright]

1. I REALLY wish that when they "announce" stuff like this they could be specific enough...

...to be useful. As in, the problem is with JAVA 7.

If the version of Java in your software directory, or your browser's add-ons or extension manager is Java 6, you don't need to do anything, as far as I understand it.

Disable any automatic updates connected to Java and keep using your Java 6.

At some point they'll fix Java 7 and we'll hear about it.

grouchily,
Bright

[Tab]

2. This link elaborates more

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57563619/u.s-tells-computer-users-to-disable-java-software/

"The malware has currently been seen attacking Windows, Linux and Unix systems, and while so far has not focused on OS X, may be able to do so given OS X is largely similar to Unix and Java is cross-platform.

Even though the exploit has not been seen in OS X, Apple has taken steps to block it by issuing an update to its built-in XProtect system to block the current version of the Java 7 runtime and require users install an as of yet unreleased version of the Java runtime.

Luckily with the latest versions of Java, users who need to keep it active can change a couple of settings to help secure their systems. Go to the Java Control Panel that is installed along with the runtime, and in the Security section uncheck the option to "Enable Java content in the browser," which will disable the browser plug-in. This will prevent the inadvertent execution of exploits that may be stumbled upon when browsing the Web, and is a recommended setting for most people to do. If you need to see a Java applet on the Web, then you can always temporarily re-enable the plug-in.

The second setting is to increase the security level of the Java runtime, which can also be done in the same Security section of the Java Control Panel. The default security level is Medium, but you can increase this to High or Very High. At the High level, Java will prompt you for approval before running any unsigned Java code, and at the Very High level all Java code will require such approval, regardless of whether or not it is signed."

[CountAllVotes]

3. That is what I have - VERSION 7

What a damn nightmare!

It keeps wanting to update Adobe Acrobat!

[PatrynXX]

4. which will cause just about every non geek Blu ray fan to have a fit

how to disable Java on a blu ray player


sorry have my own malwarebytes program. uselss warning..

[Flatpicker]

5. Disable it?

I haven't even installed Java on my Win 8 rebuild.

It's too resource intensive IMO.

[bunnies]

6. KnR. Thanks for the info.

Easy enough!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

7. dumb question: How do I know what version I have?

And how do I disable it?