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Java isn’t good for your for your computer’s health right now. It can mess it up pretty bad. Bad enough that the US Department of Homeland Security is warning its citizens to turn it off. OK, but how do you do that? Fortunately, it’s not that hard.
All the current Java exploits come from Java (not Javascript) running in your browser. And while you can get all the way down to the root of the problem by uninstalling Java on the whole, you can also just lock it down in all your browsers, or just the browsers you actually use. That way you can still have it around with Minecraft or whatever and still be safe. Here’s a rundown:
Chrome
To disable Java in Chrome type “chrome://plugins” into your address bar. This will bring up a new tab. Find the item on the list that reads just plain “Java” and click below it where it says “Disable” in blue. Restart your browser.
Safari
To disable Java in Safari choose “Safari” and then “Preferences” on the taskbar or hit control and comma simultaneously (⌘-,). Click “Security” on the top row of the new window. Uncheck the box that reads “Enable Java” if checked. Restart your browser.
Internet Explorer 8,9, and 10
Go to the “Tools” menu and select “Manage Add-ons.” Go to the left of the window that pops up and in the drop-down box below the heading “Show:” select “All Add-ons.” Scroll down the list on the right of the window until you find a subheading under the category “Group” that reads “Oracle America, Inc.” Select each item and disable it with the “Disable” button in the bottom right-hand corner of the window. Restart your browser.
Firefox
Go to the “Tools” menu and select “Add-ons” or hit ctrl, shift, and the letter ‘a’ simultaneously. Select “Plug-ins” on the left-hand side of the new tab that shows up. Scroll the list on the right-hand side of the screen until you find an item that reads “Java (TM) Platform [somethingsomethingsomething].” Click the “Disable” button on the right. Restart your browser.
Apple Update Removes Java From All OS X Browsers
This New Trojan Disables Your Mac's Auto-Updates
Java Patched, New Java Security Holes Discovered
The new Java Plugin should be released today if no last minute bugs are found.
No, no, this article should be about Flash! http://occupyflash.org/
Never had a problem with it and tbh the whole Flash Player hate seems to stem from Apple propaganda, before they started their hate campaign no one said a thing.
You people need to buy better PCs or something because Flash has always worked fine and it doesn’t even crash like people seem to say it does 100% of the time.
I’m not going to irrationally hate something and remove content for myself. Good Luck enjoying lots of Youtube videos, BBC iPlayer, porn sites, online streaming sites so you don’t have to pay Sky any thing for a shit service.
I’ll keep flash thanx.
In fact disable these things and the web would be a poorer place. However get rid of Gizmondo and no one would care, this isn’t a serious tech site, it offers no information, it just exists…… I come here when I’m pissed to see poor articles like this.
Sums this festering site up pretty well smoosh! Kat has really driven it into the ground.
So I can presume we’re not going to see you commenting on our festering site any longer, then? Thanks, and ta ta!
Just it, instead of being proactive and doing something to make the site better this is the response I have seen to a number of commenters who have grown frustrated with giz uk. It def started stronger but has dropped off steadily, recently its rehashing the US articles days late. Perhaps I have been overly harsh on rereading the above comment but the underlying sentiment still rings true.
We aim to publish about 40 posts a day here on the UK site — bear in mind we do about 15 UK-original articles each day. With the US site publishing over 100, we can’t take *all* of the posts, nor can we always publish everything within the same day it appears on the US site, especially with the time zone difference.
Most people only read one of the sites, not both, so we use our best editorial judgment when choosing which posts to syndicate. Apologies if you’re unhappy with our process, but you’re more than welcome to read the US site, and the US site alone, if that’s what you wish.
That’s true, disabling java/flash would have a bigger impact on most people than Giz disappearing would. Also true, is the fact that Giz would have a bigger impact on most people than if you stopped coming here. Although there isn’t really any logical consequence of that realisation, so I’m not sure what your point was.
On the other hand, given how you spend your entire comment writing about flash, when the article was on Java, you’re at least being honest about the fact that when you come here, you’re too pissed to be of any use to fellow Giz users.
So I can presume we’re not going to see your name ’round these parts any longer? Thanks for reading, and bye!
You shouldn’t need pulgins to do things, also youtube works without flash.
I used to have a lot of flash issues with a shitload of tabs open and didnt adblock them. Apart from that it’s always been fine with me. Just out of interest what other tech sites do you visit recommend, personally I only visit this and hexus although giz takes a lot of my time since I’m not very selective on what to read D:
Would be nice if you detailed some of the consequences of disabling Java?
Well you wouldn’t be able to play Minecraft, for a start!
Disabling in browser doesn’t mean disabling on computer.
You could always install noScript – it doesnt totally disable java, you can click on its icon, and re-enable things as required.
I’ve just noticed that Firefox (or at v.18) handily has already blocked Java for you and advised that it’s vulnerable.
Nice touch.