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US government tells computer users to disable Java
WindstreamNews ^ | Jan 11, 2013 | Terence P. Jeffrey

Posted on 01/11/2013 6:44:04 PM PST by LouAvul

Edited on 01/11/2013 7:18:00 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

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.

Excerpt, read more at Windstream


TOPICS: Government; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: sourcetitlenoturl
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1 posted on 01/11/2013 6:44:06 PM PST by LouAvul
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To: LouAvul

Nonsense.


2 posted on 01/11/2013 6:48:16 PM PST by jennychase
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To: LouAvul

bkmk


3 posted on 01/11/2013 6:51:34 PM PST by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both)
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To: LouAvul

ping


4 posted on 01/11/2013 6:53:18 PM PST by Jude in WV
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To: jennychase

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-57563567-263/new-malware-exploiting-java-7-in-windows-and-unix-systems/

...A new Trojan horse called Mal/JavaJar-B has been found that exploits a vulnerability in Oracle’s Java 7 and affects even the latest version of the runtime (7u10).

The exploit has been described by Sophos as a zero-day attack since it has been found being actively used in malware before developers have had a chance to investigate and patch it. The exploit is currently under review at the National Vulnerability Database and has been given an ID number CVE-2013-0422, where it is still described as relatively unknown...

...uckily 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.

Since this threat is Java-based, it will only affect systems that have Java installed. Most platforms do not come with Java, but if you have installed it and do not need or regularly use it, you might consider removing it from your system...


5 posted on 01/11/2013 6:54:22 PM PST by jjotto ("Ya could look it up!")
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To: LouAvul

There was a different article about a Java threat posted here earlier.

This new article should stay, but Freepers may also want to consult the other one:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2976900/posts


6 posted on 01/11/2013 6:55:28 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: All

I disabled it and had to re-enable it or a program I need won’t load. Oh well.


7 posted on 01/11/2013 6:58:29 PM PST by BipolarBob (Happy Hunger Games! May the odds be ever in your favor.)
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To: jennychase
Nonsense

"Mein Fuhrer, das Russkies sind auf das outskirts ov Berlin!"

8 posted on 01/11/2013 7:02:07 PM PST by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong! Ice cream is delicious!)
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To: LouAvul

Yeah disable Java...wouldn’t we all love to do that in a perfect world. Good luck doing that in an enterprise that uses ADP products, Kronos etc...
Lunacy.


9 posted on 01/11/2013 7:02:30 PM PST by miliantnutcase
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To: LouAvul

I’m sure the U.S. govt. has no applications that use java. They are smarter than that.


10 posted on 01/11/2013 7:23:11 PM PST by unixfox (Abolish Slavery, Repeal The 16th Amendment!)
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To: jennychase
Nonsense.

Uhhhh this alert is real and not fluff. Google it.

11 posted on 01/11/2013 7:30:31 PM PST by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
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To: jjotto

Thanks!


12 posted on 01/11/2013 7:33:58 PM PST by colinhester
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To: LouAvul

Tick, tick, tick...waiting for my 90 year old mother who reads all the junk advice emails to ask if she needs to disable something called java on her computer.


13 posted on 01/11/2013 7:51:28 PM PST by gunsequalfreedom (Conservative is not a label of convenience. It is a guide to your actions.)
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To: gunsequalfreedom

14 posted on 01/11/2013 7:56:35 PM PST by Carriage Hill ("I meant to say maggot, but I have a lisp.")
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To: carriage_hill

is it 3 o’clock in the morning?


15 posted on 01/11/2013 8:25:08 PM PST by theDentist (FUBO; qwerty ergo typo : i type, therefore i misspelll)
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To: carriage_hill

is it 3 o’clock in the morning?


16 posted on 01/11/2013 8:25:15 PM PST by theDentist (FUBO; qwerty ergo typo : i type, therefore i misspelll)
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To: theDentist

No one’s home at The White Hut/Crib.

(((click)))

“Leave a message and we’ll get back to you, sometime...”


17 posted on 01/11/2013 8:27:39 PM PST by Carriage Hill ("I meant to say maggot, but I have a lisp.")
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To: LouAvul

The government wants me to turn off my own paid-for software!
The government wants me to eat what i cannot!
The government wants me to jump their hoops!

SEZ YOU!!!


18 posted on 01/11/2013 9:03:13 PM PST by Terry L Smith
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To: Cicero

Typical AP. So up Obama’s ass that they are to busy to tell people how to disable it!


19 posted on 01/11/2013 9:28:13 PM PST by willk
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To: LouAvul
Thxs, for the post.

20 posted on 01/11/2013 9:43:34 PM PST by skinkinthegrass (who'll take tomorrow,spend it all today;who can take your income,tax it all away..0'Bozo man can :-)
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