Java update window

[nottaclue9]

It's showing up in the lower right-hand corner of my screen. I used to always click on those update reminders, but since I am a virus/malware magnet, I'm skeptical about doing so anymore. I tried to update from their site, but it didn't happen.

Is it safe to assume that the window is legit? I have heard many horror stories about evil doers doing their evil via Java.

 

[Alejandro85]

The real Java update works in this way, it puts an icon in the tray and waits there for the user to confirm it, it's normal if you have Java installed. In control panel there are options to disable those annoying popups, leaving yourself in charge of installing updates by hand if you want them.

Note that it can also be a malicious program pretending to be Java waiting to catch you off-guard, that's a relatively common tactic to infect computers of unsuspecting people. If you want, can you post a screenshot to confirm it's the real thing?

Most of those "horror stories about evil doers doing their evil via Java" are actually FUD spread mostly by MS really, on both this forum and many other sites. Java it's not that dangerous, specially if you're careful.
To be true the real part of the horror histories is that Java contains some security-related bugs, but those are concentrated in the browser pluggin that runs Java applets on webpages. Disabling Java support in all your browsers makes Java really innocuous, but keeping it enabled exposes you to some security risks.

 

[nottaclue9]

Thank you, Alejandro85. Is it absolutely necessary to have Java? I use Facebook a lot, and there are some videos I want to look at. What is its basic function?

I'm not getting an icon in my tray. I'm getting a little window above my tray on start-up in the morning. I have made the mistake of believing one of those little notices before and ended up with ransom ware that ruined my computer. That's why I'm being so cautious.

 

[Alejandro85]

It's not "Necessary" strictly speaking. It's only used if you use any Java programs or visit websites that use some Java applet, but if neither is true, then it's just bloat.

Java itself is a runtime, a helper library that other programs use to execute but in itself has no value, only when something else requires it Whether or not it's really needed in your case depends on which programs do you use.

If you want to try, uninstall it and see if something else breaks afterwards. You can always reinstall if it happens to be needed.