“Oracle Corp said it is preparing an update to address a flaw in its widely used Java software after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security urged computer users to disable the program in web browsers because criminal hackers are exploiting a security bug to attack PCs,” Jim Finkle reports for Reuters. “‘A fix will be available shortly,’ the company said in a statement released late on Friday.”
“The Department of Homeland Security and computer security experts said on Thursday that hackers figured out how to exploit the bug in a version of Java used with Internet browsers to install malicious software on PCs,” Finkel reports. “That has enabled them to commit crimes from identity theft to making an infected computer part of an ad-hoc computer network that can be used to attack websites.”
Finkel reports, “Java is a computer language that enables programmers to write software utilizing just one set of codes that will run on virtually any type of computer, including ones that use Microsoft Corp’s Windows, Apple Inc’s OS X and Linux.”
Read more in the full article here.
Related articles:
Apple blocks OS X Java 7 plug-in as U.S. Department of Homeland Security warns of zero day threat – January 11, 2013
Apple makes OS X even more secure for Mac users by removing Java – October 19, 2012
Apple uninstalls Java applet plug-in from all web browsers – October 17, 2012
New zero-day Java exploit puts 1 billion PCs and Macs running OS X 10.6 or earlier at risk – September 26, 2012
Warning: New Java trojan targets Apple’s OS X along with Windows, Linux – July 11, 2012
Apple releases Java Update to remove Flashback trojan – April 12, 2012
OS X trojan variant preys on Mac users with unpatched Java – February 27, 2012
Jobs: Having Oracle, not Apple, release timely Java updates better for Mac users – October 22, 2010
Apple deprecates its release of Java for Mac OS X – October 21, 2010
