Time to disable Java on your browser as lethal security exploit is found
Ryan Martin / 12 years ago
Hackers have found a significant hole in the Java software. This hole, allows hackers to break into Oracle’s Java software and install malware or viruses as they please. The attack was first spotted on Sunday by a security firm called “FirmEye”. The threat is dubbed a “Zero-Day” threat because it has never been discovered before and no fix is available currently.
The loophole appears to affect Java Version 7 (also known as 1.7) on all browsers. Both Windows PC users and Mac users are vulnerable to this new exploit.Everyone should be concerned as the new Java exploit was added to the internet’s most popular hacking toolkit known as BlackHole.
The solution is simple. Disable Java in your browser now, it simply is not worth the risk. Websites barely use Java anymore and Java’s parent company Oracle have a useless track record when it comes to fixing exploits quickly. We probably won’t see a patch for months (October is rumoured) and in the meantime we are all left vulnerable to thousands of malicious hackers.
“Java has been the most exploited program for well over a year now and it simply isn’t worth the risk,” Chet Wisniewski of the security firm Sophos told me in an email. “I would recommend removing Java entirely, if you can.”
Here’s how to remove Java from some popular browsers:
- In Firefox, select “Tools” from the main menu, then “Add-ons,” then click the “Disable” button next to any Java plug-ins.
- In Safari, click “Safari” in the main menu bar, then “Preferences,” then select the “Security” tab and uncheck the button next to “Enable Java.”
- In Google Chrome, type “Chrome://Plugins” in your browser’s address bar, then click the “Disable” button below any Java plug-ins.
We’ve never been a site to try and tell people what to do, but this is a very important issue – disable Java now or face the potential consequences of not doing so.
