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How to Disable Java
Last week (January 2013) the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) advised that users to disable Java in browsers on their computer. You may see information about a new patch from Oracle, which addresses this vulnerability but it has new vulnerabilities. It is recommended that you take appropriate measures to protect your system.
The issue:
Java is a programming language and computing platform for Microsoft Windows, Apple’s Mac OS and Linux. It is a free software available for users to download. Java Plug-in is used by browsers to run applets written for Java. A security hole in Java implementation allows a hacker to execute arbitrary code remotely. In other words, this exploit allows an attacker to download a malicious program on its victim’s computer without prompting.
How to disable Java:
Given below are instructions on how to do this on your system without removing the software.
- In Firefox, select "Tools" from the main menu, then "Add-ons," then click the "Disable" button next to any Java plug-ins.
- In Chrome, type or copy "Chrome://Plugins" into your browser's address bar, then click the "Disable" button below any Java plug-ins.
- In Safari, click "Safari" in the main menu bar, then "Preferences," then select the "Security" tab and uncheck the button next to "Enable Java."
- In Internet Explorer, follow these instructions for disabling Java in all browsers via the Control Panel. There is no way to completely disable Java specifically in IE.
For additional instructions, visit: http://www.java.com/en/download/help/disable_browser.xml.