Apple uninstalls Java applet plug-in from all web browsers

Apple has released Java for OS X 2012-006 which delivers improved security, reliability, and compatibility for Java SE 6. Java for OS X 2012-006 supersedes all previous versions of Java for OS X.

This release updates the Apple-provided system Java SE 6 to version 1.6.0_37 and is for OS X versions 10.7 or later. This update uninstalls the Apple-provided Java applet plug-in from all web browsers. To use applets on a web page, click on the region labeled “Missing plug-in” to go download the latest version of the Java applet plug-in from Oracle.

This update also removes the Java Preferences application, which is no longer required to configure applet settings.

For information about the security content of this update, please visit this website: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222

11 Comments

  1. AFAIK, Java is the primary attack vector on OS X. That should take care-of everything other than MacDefender, which Apple eliminated with a removal tool. Is there any other Mac malware out there?

    There seem to be some Safari vulnerabilities, which the Pwn2Own people find, but Apple always fixes those after the contest.

      1. I’d describe MacKeeper as crapware. That’s nothing new.

        What’s dire about MacKeeper is the SCAMMER marketing tactics used on the Internet by their developer, ZeoBIT. The FTC recently slapped fines on a company pulling similar SCAMS on Internet users. I suspect ZeoBIT is in their sights. ZeoBIT is easily the most offensive company on the Mac platform.

      1. As vehement hackers will point out, OS X has historically had plenty of security flaws. But until recently, the only attack surface being used by malware rats was the user. All we had were Trojan horses.

        Over the last couple years, the most danger infection vector for Mac has been anything free from Adobe, or Oracle’s Java, allowing drive-by infections without any user action. Free software from either source is well worth NOT using.

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