There is one true code and its name is BSD.
It appears that firefox disabled it for me.
Why can’t we just remove Java as I did yesterday in control panel’s ‘uninstall a program’ feature in Windows 7?
So is this legit or what? I just looked at mine - it’s the 6.0 version - way behind on updating I am.
FYI
From Firefox/Mozilla:
“In order to protect you, Firefox has stopped the Java plugin from running automatically because it has a security issue. However, you can still use Java on trusted sites if necessary. We’ll show you how [via the link below]”:
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-to-use-java-if-its-been-blocked
HERE IS A HELPFUL SITE:
HOW TO DISABLE JAVA ON YOUR BROWSER
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2013/01/how-to-disable-java-in-your-browser/
http://www.techsupportalert.com/
Get a free Firewall(Comodo), Anti-Virus (Panda that uses Cloud), Anti-Malware, and a few other scanning software - and you will be fine...disabling JAVA will upset certain websites and other things on your computer...
A multi-approach defense is better than cancelling out a needed software program like JAVA...
Nothing new here.
Java has always been computing security hell.
Question is how will I know if a pop up saying "for those who uninstalled JAVA, download this latest version that has been patched to resolved any potential problems", is legit or just a way for the hacker to get control of my computer?
What I don’t get is why there are several versions of Java on my computer. After you do an update you’d think it would delete the former update prior to it. I remember back in the Windows XP days, you’d see several 100+ MB files of Java Updates that were still there, instead of deleting the old files when it updates a new file.
I know nothing about computers. I’m on an ancient Quicksilver Power Mac G4, running 10.4.1. My Java plugin settings are from 2005, and 2009. Do I need to do anything?
And I should believe anything Big Sis has to say????
The solution to this problem is not disabling anything unless you also disable or uninstall Flash, Adobe reader and all other browser plug-ins that you might have. It is true that Java has a zero-day and the others don’t (that we know about). But you can only get pwned by going to a malicious website. YOu will not get pwned by running java applets from legitimate websites. When Flash has their next zero day, the DHS will probably tell you to disable that, or may they won’t. Relying on their advice is foolish. Just don’t surf to shady websites (e.g. get rich quick, porn, too-good-to-be-true, etc).
I do not view “The Department of Homeland Security” as a legal organization, because it infringes on my Constitutional rights.
There’s a lot of misinformation posted on this thread (not the original post but the responses to it).
This *really* is a *legitimate* threat - this is not some trumped up tempest in a teapot dreamed up by the government. It’s not just DHS that has issued this sort of warning - it’s basically anyone that has anything to say about computer security.
And no - confining yourself to “legitimate” websites may not be adequate - as these sites have the potential to be compromised by the bad guys.
Uninstalling Java is fine - but turning off the Java plugin in your browser is good enough.
No need to “save a copy” of what you uninstall - as you can always get a copy of the new code when it’s been released and deemed “secure”.
I can’t even find JAVA on my computer. I can disable Java script on Firefox and Internet Explorer, but there is no “Java” program installed, that I can find.
There is a simple and effective solution to this and other threats. Do you want a bullet-proof web surfing computer that can’t be corrupted? Any perceived problems can be fixed by a quick reboot. No anti-virus programs required to protect it, either.
Keep your Windows or Mac computer isolated offline. Many of us have older desktop computers laying around or can scrounge one up for little or nothing. A hard drive isn’t even needed, just a DVD drive. I use a 10-year-old Dell with 512Mb memory, but could get by with even less. Boot that old desktop PC off an operating system demo disk. Oops, Windows and Apple don’t offer one. Use a Linux demo disk, such as Ubuntu or Mint. You can buy demo disks online or else download and burn images from the Linux websites to create CD or DVD boot disks.
If you ever believe you stumbled across a boobytrapped website, just reboot to purge the problem - you have no hard disk to compromise.
Is a little inconvenience worth the simplicity and safety?
Just more BS to confuse Internet innocents. JAVA has always been insecure, but many web pages won’t work without it. Furthermore, Microsoft Windows itself is fundamentally insure in almost every way conceivable anyway. The government suddenly telling people to quit using JAVA would be like them telling people to quit driving their cars because some other driver might hit them.
Do remember, this is the Obama administration issuing this statement! While at the same time as giving out worse-than-useless advice to people that will make their web browsing quit working, they’re also busily undefending our borders, playing kissy-kiss with our enemies, and instituting a massive domestic spy apparatus.
So there you have it. Are you really going to screw around with your PC because the Obama Administration told you to?