Oh ok. Am running Microsoft outlook. Barb K1EIR -----Original Message----- From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Steve Dresser Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2013 7:58 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Homeland Security says we should disable JAVA! You don't; it's not part of Outlook Express. In fact, it's not even part of your browser unless you're running plug-ins that use it. Steve ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lowell Miller" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2013 16:12 Subject: Re: Homeland Security says we should disable JAVA! > O.K. I'm dumb; how do you disable Java in outlook express? > I have no idea. > Thanks for any help! > 73 > Lowell W8QIY > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Bob, K8LR" <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2013 3:39 PM > Subject: Homeland Security says we should disable JAVA! > > >> FYI! >> >> After reading these, I'm disabling Java for now! >> >> Bob, K8LR, [log in to unmask] >> >> Department of Homeland Security advises computer users to disable Java >> because of security bug >> Published Sat, 12 Jan 2013 03:43:54 -0500 >> Yahoo! News >> WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is advising people >> to >> temporarily disable the Java software on their computers to avoid >> potential >> hacking attacks. >> The recommendation came in an advisory issued late Thursday, following up >> on >> concerns raised by computer security experts. >> Experts believe hackers have found a flaw in Java's coding that creates >> an >> opening for criminal activity and other high-tech mischief. >> Java is a widely used technical language that allows computer programmers >> to >> write a wide variety of Internet applications and other software programs >> that >> can run on just about any computer's operating system. >> Oracle Corp. bought Java as part of a $7.3 billion acquisition of the >> software's creator, Sun Microsystems, in 2010. >> Oracle, which is based in Redwood Shores, Calif., had no immediate >> comment >> late Friday. >> >> U.S. warns on Java software as security concerns escalate >> Published Fri, 11 Jan 2013 16:53:52 -0500 >> (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security urged computer users >> to >> disable Oracle Corp's Java software, amplifying security experts' prior >> warnings >> to hundreds of millions of consumers and businesses that use it to surf >> the >> Web. >> Hackers have figured out how to exploit Java to install malicious >> software >> enabling them to commit crimes ranging from identity theft to making an >> infected >> computer part of an ad-hoc network of computers that can be used to >> attack >> websites. >> "We are currently unaware of a practical solution to this problem," the >> Department of Homeland Security's Computer Emergency Readiness Team said >> in >> a posting >> on its website late on Thursday. >> "This and previous Java vulnerabilities have been widely targeted by >> attackers, and new Java vulnerabilities are likely to be discovered," the >> agency said. >> "To defend against this and future Java vulnerabilities, disable Java in >> Web >> browsers." >> Oracle declined on Friday to comment on the warning. >> Java is a computer language that enables programmers to write software >> utilizing just one set of code that will run on virtually any type of >> computer, including >> ones that use Microsoft Corp's Windows, Apple Inc's OS X and Linux, an >> operating system widely employed by corporations. >> Computer users access Java programs through modules, or plug-ins, that >> run >> Java software on top of browsers such as Internet Explorer and Firefox. >> The U.S. government's warning on Java came after security experts warned >> on >> Thursday of the newly discovered flaw. >> It is relatively rare for government agencies to advise computer users to >> completely disable software due to a security bug, particularly in the >> case >> of >> widely used programs such as Java. They typically recommend taking steps >> to >> mitigate the risk of attack while manufacturers prepare an update, or >> hold >> off on publicizing the problem until an update is prepared. >> In September, the German government advised the public to temporarily >> stop >> using Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser to give it time to patch a >> security >> vulnerability that opened it to attacks. >> Java is so widely used that the software has become a prime target for >> hackers. Last year Oracle's Java surpassed Adobe Systems Inc's Reader >> software as >> the most frequently attacked piece of software, according to security >> software maker Kaspersky Lab. >> Java was responsible for 50 percent of all cyber attacks last year in >> which >> hackers broke into computers by exploiting software bugs, according >> Kaspersky. >> That was followed by Adobe Reader, which was involved in 28 percent of >> all >> incidents. Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer were involved in about >> 3 >> percent of incidents, according to the survey. >> The Department of Homeland Security said attackers could trick targets >> into >> visiting malicious websites that would infect their PCs with software >> capable >> of exploiting the bug in Java. >> It said an attacker could also infect a legitimate website by uploading >> malicious software that would infect machines of computer users who trust >> that site >> because they have previously visited it without experiencing any >> problems. >> They said developers of several popular tools, known as exploit kits, >> which >> criminal hackers use to attack PCs, have added software that allows >> hackers >> to exploit the newly discovered bug in Java to attack computers. >> Security experts have been scrutinizing the safety of Java since a >> similar >> security scare in August, which prompted some of them to advise using the >> software >> only on an as-needed basis. >> At the time they advised businesses to allow their workers to use Java >> browser plug-ins only when prompted for permission by trusted programs >> such >> as GoToMeeting, >> a Web-based collaboration tool from Citrix Systems Inc. >> Java suffered another setback in October when Apple began removing old >> versions of the software from Internet browsers of Mac computers when its >> customers >> installed new versions of its OS X operating system. Apple did not >> provide >> a >> reason for the change and both companies declined to comment at the time. >> ? >> Adam Gowdiak, a researcher with Polish security firm Security >> Explorations, >> told Reuters he believes that Oracle fails to properly test its software >> fixes >> for security flaws. "It's definitely safer for users to stay away from >> Java >> 'til Oracle starts taking security seriously," he said. >> (Reporting by Jim Finkle; Editing by Dan Grebler) >> >> >> Bob, K8LR, [log in to unmask] >> >> >> ----- >> No virus found in this message. >> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >> Version: 2013.0.2890 / Virus Database: 2638/6027 - Release Date: 01/12/13 >> >