[bbvj]

On the news this morning, they're reporting that there is a security problem with Java and 'experts' are advising that pc users disable Java as a precaution. Forgive me if this is a dumb question, but do we need to disable it on the PB? Does anyone else have any more info regarding this news report?

[rthonpm]

Java and Javascript are not the same thing, nor even that closely related. The Java that needs to be disabled is the plug-in for your browser, not the Javascript that allows menus and things to function. Here's a piece from the Java website:

How is JavaScript different from Java?
The JavaScript programming language, developed by Netscape, Inc., is not part of the Java platform.
JavaScript, does not create applets or stand-alone applications. In its most common form today, JavaScript resides inside HTML documents, and can provide levels of interactivity to web pages that are not achievable with simple HTML.

Listed are key differences between the Java and JavaScript.

Java is an OOP programming language while Java Script is an OOP scripting language.
Java creates applications that run in a virtual machine or browser while JavaScript code is run on a browser only.
Java code needs to be compiled while JavaScript code are all in text.
They require different plug-ins.

How is JavaScript different from Java?

[Bold_until_Hybrid_Comes]

It's scary out there

[peter9477]

Here's a handy link to an article that's presumably on what the OP was talking about: New security vulnerability found in Java | Digital Trends

As rthonpm says, this has no connection whatsoever to the PlayBook or BB10, which do not support Java in the browser.

[SEAWARRIOR]

if you're running windows, check for security updates,,, there are 13 that i'm installing now...

[rthonpm]

if you're running windows, check for security updates,,, there are 13 that i'm installing now...

If you're also running Windows, be sure to disable Java from running in your browser. Here's the US CERT email on the matter sent out this morning:

National Cyber Awareness System

US-CERT Alert TA13-010A
Oracle Java 7 Security Manager Bypass Vulnerability

Original release date: January 10, 2013
Last revised: --

Systems Affected

Any system using Oracle Java 7 (1.7, 1.7.0) including

* Java Platform Standard Edition 7 (Java SE 7)
* Java SE Development Kit (JDK 7)
* Java SE Runtime Environment (JRE 7)

All versions of Java 7 through update 10 are affected. Web
browsers using the Java 7 plug-in are at high risk.


Overview

A vulnerability in the way Java 7 restricts the permissions of Java
applets could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary commands on a
vulnerable system.


Description

A vulnerability in the Java Security Manager allows a Java applet
to grant itself permission to execute arbitrary code. An attacker
could use social engineering techniques to entice a user to visit a
link to a website hosting a malicious Java applet. An attacker
could also compromise a legitimate web site and upload a malicious
Java applet (a "drive-by download" attack).

Any web browser using the Java 7 plug-in is affected. The Java
Deployment Toolkit plug-in and Java Web Start can also be used as
attack vectors.

Reports indicate this vulnerability is being actively exploited,
and exploit code is publicly available.

Further technical details are available in Vulnerability Note
VU#625617.


Impact

By convincing a user to load a malicious Java applet or Java
Network Launching Protocol (JNLP) file, an attacker could execute
arbitrary code on a vulnerable system with the privileges of the
Java plug-in process.


Solution

Disable Java in web browsers

This and previous Java vulnerabilities have been widely targeted by
attackers, and new Java vulnerabilities are likely to be
discovered. To defend against this and future Java vulnerabilities,
disable Java in web browsers.

Starting with Java 7 Update 10, it is possible to disable Java
content in web browsers through the Java control panel applet. From
Setting the Security Level of the Java Client:

For installations where the highest level of security is required,
it is possible to entirely prevent any Java apps (signed or
unsigned) from running in a browser by de-selecting Enable Java
content in the browser in the Java Control Panel under the Security
tab.

[bbvj]

Hey, Everyone....Much Thanks for all of your responses/clarifications.......