Tech Alert: Update Java NOW

[lolmac]

How recently did you install an update to Java?

If your answer is "Last week" or "Last month" or "Huh?  What's that?" or, in fact, anything other than "Yesterday" or "Today", go thou and update.  Now.  Then come back here and I'll tell you why, but seriously, DON'T WAIT.

http://www.java.com/en/download/inc/windows_upgrade_xpi.jsp

It usually comes as a

Comments

[alternatealto]

Heard and obeyed, Oh Queen!

And also signal-boosted. Thanks!

[lolmac]

*HUGS*

[justice_turtle]

You do realize you're one of the only people who could get me to click on an "install" link right away, no questions asked... ;-)

*toodles off to forward news to my family, because their resident geek is my dad and he hates Java / won't support it*

[lolmac]

See note about updating Java even if you then disable it -- which might be a reasonable solution for your father.

[magnavox_23]

Done & done! Thank you. <3

[lolmac]

You're welcome!

[campylobacter]

For Mac users:

The Java 7 patch link goes to a .exe file, which won't run on Macs.

Brute force Mac solution: DISABLE JAVA
1. Go to Applications > Utilities > Java Preferences
2. Under the General tab, uncheck the "On" ticky boxes.

New vulnerabilities found in latest Java update

[lolmac]

See also ETAs in the main post -- Skyler passed on a really good article on the situation for Mac users.

[campylobacter]

Thanks. I'ma wait for more definitive patches from Oracle before enabling Java again. (I'd disabled applets when the first Java vulnerability appeared in the spring.)

[sidlj]

I took care of it on my PC and then went to update my netbook...only to find out Java isn't even installed on my netbook. Which is weird, because when I was dealing with Java on the PC, I had my browser open to DW and LJ, and I had to close the browser because it was using Java. So somehow I am accessing DW and LJ on the netbook without needing Java? Oh, well. The mysteries of computers. Might be something to do with the more up-to-date OS and browser on the netbook, I suppose.

[lolmac]

*scratches head* Yeah, that one's got me stumped! Unless the Netbook is an iWidget of some sort?

Or -- possibly -- since DW and LJ don't actually require the Java plug-in, it may never have been invoked on the netbook (especially if the netbook is relatively new, and you mostly use it to visit DW and LJ). In that case, it hasn't been installed yet, although it might yet make whiny noises and ask for it.

[lolmac]

BTW, would you be willing to signal-boost this on Dreamwidth? I don't have a BethInExile journal in parallel there.

[sidlj]

Okay!