Posted on 01/13/2013 6:53:40 AM PST by SeekAndFind
If you have not yet seen or acted upon Homeland Security's warning, I urge you to do so immediately:
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.
BlazingCatFur explains the situation:
My suspicion is that it's related to this: Iran blamed for massive cyber attack on U.S. banks data centers as 'puppet hacking group' says they did it because the anti-Mohammed movie is still on the internet.
BCF links to a helpful site, but the instructions may be a bit confusing to some:
Last month Oracle released a new Java version, Update 10, that includes a one-stop option for disabling Java in all browsers in the Java Control Panel. Open Control Panel and launch the Java applet. If you don't see it, switch to Classic View (in XP) or small icons (in Vista or Windows 7). Click the Security tab. In previous versions this tab just allowed advanced users to manage Java-related certificates. It now displays a security-level slider and, more important, a single checkbox titled "Enable Java content in the browser." Un-check this box, click OK, and you're done.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
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?
You can also remove Java, but don’t you want it back later?
Yes, but will we be notified when it’s safe to reinstall the latest version?
Also is there any alternative to Java that has been proven safe?
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/
RE: So is this legit or what?
It is a legitimate computer threat being reported now.
See here for various reports:
Oracle confirms latest Java 7 vulnerability and announces ‘a fix will be available shortly’
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...
Since when do we trust DHS?
I don’t even know what Java is, but when I see FEMA or DHS tell me to do something I’m going to be suspicious right off.
Maybe this is one f those times DHS gets the broken clock award of the day though.
Thanks Tom - I noticed FF installing an update the other day, but paid no attention.
This is a variant of a Java problem since 2011 (I think). DHS didn’t find it. This is an example of the slavish MSM giving credit to a bungling government for something done by free markets.
Ok I should have known that.
They don’t even get the broken clock award.
They get the “day late dollar short irrelevant useless goobermint agency” of the day award.
I can’t find anywhere that explains what the vulnerability is, or gives sample exploit code.
Nothing new here.
Java has always been computing security hell.
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