Java Continues to be Hackers' Darling

[Brink]

Java’s ubiquity combined with its propensity to stay out of date on a large chunk of its install base makes it an ideal target for hackers. This is enough to ensure that whenever the subject of third-party software vulnerabilities crops up for discussion Java is somewhere at the top of the ensuing list of those most vulnerable. According to the latest volume of Microsoft’s Security Intelligence Report, Java was responsible for the largest number of attacks in the first half of 2011.

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Maximum PC | Java Continues to be Hackers' Darling

 

[Dwarf]

All the more reason, if you have Java installed on your system, to keep it up to date.

 

[legacy7955]

I honestly don't understand why it is so hard for people to keep critical programs like this up to date, maybe they need to play one less game each week and spend that time updating the basics like Java, Adobe Flash, Reader, and a few others ....How long does it take half an hour ???

All you need to do is click on the Java icon and choose update!

Actually Java Console is default set up to offer an update automatically.

I think the biggest issue is when these programs flag you with an update notice people don't take the few minutes to complete it. Silly, and costly many times.

 

[EvilOzzmess]

I keep all of those up to date as well as everything else... yet I was still able to be targeted with a Trojan Backdoor.Bot out of the blue. Sometimes, this stuff just happens... outdated engines or not. In fact, I find I get hit with at least one piece of malware each and every year around this time, no matter what.

 

[rusty post]

I would like to skip the rhetoric one finds with a Google search and get a real answer from the people here. What exactly is Java, does one really need it, and what are the pros/cons for a moderate computer user like myself to download it. Thank you kindly. Rusty

 

[tman69]

Java allows you to play online games, chat with people around the world, calculate your mortgage interest, and view images in 3D, just to name a few. It's also integral to the intranet applications and other e-business solutions that are the foundation of corporate computing


source:

What is Java?

no rhetoric...most banks, credit card companies and many others use JAVA programming language--it would be difficult to use the internet without it.

 

[DustSailor]

no rhetoric...most banks, credit card companies and many others use JAVA programming language--it would be difficult to use the internet without it.

Does IE9 use an integrated java? I myself haven't experienced any problems going to googled websites, my bank, youtube, hotmail, sevenforums, and a number of others. I see no reason to download it (granted I do not play internet games, which I understand it would be required for).

And if there is an integrated java, how vulnerable is it seeing as browsers aren't updated quite as often as java (to my knowledge).

 

[Corazon]

Microsoft used to have its own Java VM (which wasn't quite the same as Sun's Java) long ago...I think it went out with IE6, not sure.

IE8/IE9 has no Java.

FWIW, a lot of online games etc. work just fine with Flash. Java isn't nearly as essential to browsing as they'd like people to think it is - I have it on my laptop only for a specific (non-browser) Java application which requires the runtime.

 

[rusty post]

Thanks very much for the input, folks. I seem to be doing just fine w/out Java so I think I'll just stay the course.

 

[bigcitycat]

This is why I use noscript with firefox. I only allow what I need and nothing else.

 

[Maguscreed]

It's pretty much what happens when something gets popular enough.
What's really amazing is how much java is really in use EVERYWHERE.
You never really notice it until you install something like noscript or some of the ad blockers.
It's really just absolutely everywhere.

 

[DustSailor]

I have it on my laptop only for a specific (non-browser) Java application which requires the runtime.

True, I had forgotten that some applications use java to run, such as downloadable content from a select few CDs, and openoffice may even require it, I believe.