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Author Topic: US government tells computer users to disable Java  (Read 595 times)

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Offline Teri

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US government tells computer users to disable Java
« on: January 12, 2013, 06:40:03 AM »

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-government-tells-computer-users-010200788.html
Department of Homeland Security advises computer users to disable Java because of security bug.

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.

Oracle Corp. bought Java as part of a $7.3 billion acquisition of the software's creator, Sun Microsystems, in 2010.

Oracle, which is based in Redwood Shores, Calif., had no immediate comment late Friday.
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Offline DumbAss Tanker

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Re: US government tells computer users to disable Java
« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2013, 10:41:01 AM »
Good luck using any of the .gov or ,mil government site applications with it disabled.

 :popcorn:
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Offline NHSparky

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Re: US government tells computer users to disable Java
« Reply #2 on: January 12, 2013, 05:28:38 PM »
And of course, no instructions for neophytes on how to disable Java.

Well played, DHS.  Well played.
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Offline J P Sousa

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Re: US government tells computer users to disable Java
« Reply #3 on: January 12, 2013, 10:46:02 PM »

How to turn off Java on your browser - and why you should do it now
http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2012/08/30/how-turn-off-java-browser/

 How to disable Java in Internet Explorer
 How to disable Java in Firefox
 How to disable Java in Chrome
 How to disable Java in Safari
 How to disable Java in Opera



How to disable Java - Internet Explorer
http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/how-to-disable-java-internet-explorer/

.
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Offline LC EFA

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Re: US government tells computer users to disable Java
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2013, 04:29:44 AM »
Yeah - anything those douchebags tell you to do probably creates a security hole , not resolves one.

If it came from one of the numerous open public IT security advisory groups - I'd pay it some heed.
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Offline jtyangel

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Re: US government tells computer users to disable Java
« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2013, 04:50:42 AM »
Quote from: DumbAss Tanker on January 12, 2013, 10:41:01 AM
Good luck using any of the .gov or ,mil government site applications with it disabled.

 :popcorn:

Yep
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Offline ColonelCarrots

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Re: US government tells computer users to disable Java
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2013, 08:03:01 AM »
and no Minecraft...
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Offline J P Sousa

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Re: US government tells computer users to disable Java
« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2013, 02:52:52 PM »
Quote from: LC EFA on January 13, 2013, 04:29:44 AM
Yeah - anything those douchebags tell you to do probably creates a security hole , not resolves one.

If it came from one of the numerous open public IT security advisory groups - I'd pay it some heed.


And who might they be ?
.
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Offline Big Dog

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Re: US government tells computer users to disable Java
« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2013, 03:01:58 PM »
Quote from: DumbAss Tanker on January 12, 2013, 10:41:01 AM
Good luck using any of the .gov or ,mil government site applications with it disabled.

 :popcorn:

Shit, I may be using a pen, paper, and carrier pigeon at work tomorrow  :-)
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Offline rich_t

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Re: US government tells computer users to disable Java
« Reply #9 on: January 13, 2013, 06:30:26 PM »
I am expected to actually believe anything that DHS puts out?
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Offline Eupher

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Re: US government tells computer users to disable Java
« Reply #10 on: January 13, 2013, 06:37:19 PM »
Quote from: rich_t on January 13, 2013, 06:30:26 PM
I am expected to actually believe anything that DHS puts out?

No, but the nakedsecurity... web site that JP Sousa linked to above is pretty adamant about disabling it. Several horror stories, including Mac users, Linux users, and similar-type esoteric systems.

Oracle was apparently slow on the trigger with a fix, even though there is one available.
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Offline LC EFA

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Re: US government tells computer users to disable Java
« Reply #11 on: January 14, 2013, 01:06:16 AM »
Quote from: J P Sousa on January 13, 2013, 02:52:52 PM
And who might they be ?
.

My comment was in reference to the DHS - I'm inclined to pay heed to such groups as Sophos / Mcaffee / Symantec.
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