US Government reccomends PC users disable Java

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50438461/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/t/us-government-tells-computer-users-disable-java/#.UPDqlG_BE1e

Apparently there has been a potential serious flaw in the coding in Java found by security experts. This can apparently be used for hacking attacks and and warning has been issued to recommend that users disable Java on their PC's until an update is issued. Thoughts?

I never actually knew or looked into what Java is for anyway. So, don't care I guess?

Java should never be enabled.

Already do by default in my browser by using NoScript. At least, that's what I think.

All those Minecraft players are screwed.

Thanks for the info. So long Java!

In related news, people belonging to conspiracy sites are making sure that they have Java installed and running.

@ShaggE: HA!

And there we go. Java has been successfully uninstalled!

I would love to uninstall Java. I hate it so much. Too bad I can't since I need it...

Flaw here, flaw there. Security issue here, security issue there. It's such a POS.

Guess I will do it just in case.

woooohooo way to go java nerds

@Strife777 said:

I never actually knew or looked into what Java is for anyway. So, don't care I guess?

It's a programming language and a VM environment. People like programming against it because their apps normally work cross platform right out of the box. So you can program something once and it will work on Windows, Linux, and Mac. The problem is there are always security issues being discovered which leaves everyone vulnerable since almost everyone has it installed whether they know it or not. If you don't care about Java then uninstall it. Oracle likes to take their sweet time getting fixes out and usually each time they do it they open another flaw. There's been a couple of times where they have released an update and then you read that you should revert back to an older version.

@TyCobb said:

I would love to uninstall Java. I hate it so much. Too bad I can't since I need it...

Flaw here, flaw there. Security issue here, security issue there. It's such a POS.

I'm actually curious to what you use it for. Mind sharing?

my java isn't up to date, does this mean I can leave it installed?

I just dont' want to bother uninstalling then reinstalling

Fuck, my school uses Java for online tests.

@Joeyoe31 said:

@TyCobb said:

I would love to uninstall Java. I hate it so much. Too bad I can't since I need it...

Flaw here, flaw there. Security issue here, security issue there. It's such a POS.

I'm actually curious to what you use it for. Mind sharing?

Accurev. It's a source control that the company I work for uses. It's pretty nice, but unfortunately, it is built in Java.

Haha, I know they said disable, but fuck it, might as well uninstall it while I'm thinking about it.

wait why do I have java installed

what is java used for? what might a person who uses the internet use java for?

I can't remember

For those that are unsure on how to disable it in Chrome, if you feel so inclined

The problem with uninstalling Java is you never know what sites are using it.

You might delete it and find something you have to access that uses it.

@Animasta said:

wait why do I have java installed

what is java used for? what might a person who uses the internet use java for?

I can't remember

See:

@TyCobb said:

@Strife777 said:

I never actually knew or looked into what Java is for anyway. So, don't care I guess?

It's a programming language and a VM environment. People like programming against it because their apps normally work cross platform right out of the box. So you can program something once and it will work on Windows, Linux, and Mac. The problem is there are always security issues being discovered which leaves everyone vulnerable since almost everyone has it installed whether they know it or not. If you don't care about Java then uninstall it. Oracle likes to take their sweet time getting fixes out and usually each time they do it they open another flaw. There's been a couple of times where they have released an update and then you read that you should revert back to an older version.

Remember to disable Java for your Vita too duders, lest someone hack it and do........something.

@Joeyoe31: no no, there has to be another reason

@Animasta said:

@Joeyoe31: no no, there has to be another reason

Minecraft?

@DarthOrange said:

Remember to disable Java for your Vita too duders, lest someone hack it and do........something.

Don't forget about your Blu-Ray players since they are running Java. @Animasta do you have a BluRay software installed? It may be that.

@TyCobb: neither on both, but maybe it is some sort of browser based game or something?

well since I can't remember might as well uninstall

You're better off just disabling it and seeing if anything breaks. At work I need to use it for a couple specific applications but otherwise I leave it disabled or uninstalled whenever possible. Java has been poked full of holes for a long time but it does seem to have escalated quite a bit these days.

Also Oracle sucks and I'm happy to disable or uninstall as much of their software as possible regardless of how secure it may be.

@DarthOrange said:

Remember to disable Java for your Vita too duders, lest someone hack it and do........something.

I hope it involves games.

But I know that as soon as I uninstall it, I'll want to play Minecraft again.

:(

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/noscript/

It's dangerous to go alone--take this!

This Java class I'm taking is going to get really weird in the coming weeks.

I'm gonna take my chances and keep Java enabled. No anti-virus, either. YOLO

@Eujin said:

For those that are unsure on how to disable it in Chrome, if you feel so inclined

Cheers for that. So disabling it in Chrome should still allow outside applications to utilize Java right? I'm guessing it's the browsers that people are most vulnerable on.

@Ravenlight said:

I'm gonna take my chances and keep Java enabled. No anti-virus, either. YOLO

Firewall shut off and I told windows defender to eat a dick

@Ravenlight said:

I'm gonna take my chances and keep Java enabled. No anti-virus, either. YOLO

Firewall shut off and I told windows defender to eat a dick

Help me understand; If it's a java exploit wouldn't you need to confirm the script from a website - that has to be affected too - that runs the platform before even consider getting infected? Or does it run completely in the background, java enabled websites or not, & hit Java plugins used in web browsers? Basically, is it something that can easily be prevented? & how does this hole work exactly? Either way, I've disabled it in the web browser / AddOns, assuming that's where the infection is.

Runescape players deserve to be hacked.

I heard something about a shitty update months ago and disabled it... never bothered to enable it so i guess I'm keeping it that way.

Also, i have a hard time seeing how you could get a virus via Java because it can't simply "run" something without asking you for permission... etc as far as i knew, but hey, i know jack shit about this compared to some other. Than again, America had that good old book burning thing going on just yesterday so the US senate isn't exactly what I would trust on this one.

If you pry it off my cold dead hands. (Every Minecraft player)

Well I have to use a Java based website daily, so this is great.

So are they trying to make people throw away their Android phones too? 
 
I guess Apple owns America.

@Jack268 said:

So are they trying to make people throw away their Android phones too? I guess Apple owns America.

Android doesn't run Java. Google just uses the language and then converts it to Dalvik byte code. You can make apps in C or C++ if you wanted to. Android's exploits come from the fact that it is open source, so anyone can potential find flaws in the system just by reading the code.

Java is a piece of shit and this thread finally inspired me to take the time and uninstall that crap so thanks.

Again?

Less than half a year after the Java 7 debacle?

http://www.giantbomb.com/forums/off-topic/31/java-7-security-hole/558821/

http://krebsonsecurity.com/2012/08/attackers-pounce-on-zero-day-java-exploit/

I guess I shouldn't be surprised. >_>

I've of course disabled it just in case- but this reminds me that I STILL haven't updated Java since then. :P

Fantastic, hope this clears itself up before I start needing Java for my Java class in a week.

I have to keep using Java for online homework and assignments for my university classes. Great...

Yeah, no, I have a Minecraft server that needs maintained.

@Barrock said:

The problem with uninstalling Java is you never know what sites are using it.

You might delete it and find something you have to access that uses it.

@AmatureIdiot said:

Well I have to use a Java based website daily, so this is great.

No site, unless it is to run some sort of complex application, will not need Java in order to use it normally. Java is not to be confused with Javascript, they are two totally different things. I have had Java disabled in browser and connection level for 5 years without any problems while using the net.

Just disable it in your browser. No big deal. I still use it for other stuff.

I'm pretty sure I don't have it installed.

This is a fairly new computer so maybe that's why.