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Apple Angers Mac Users With Silent Shutdown of Java 7

Posted by samzenpus on from the a-thief-in-the-night dept.

An anonymous reader writes in with news of the continuing saga of Java patches and exploits. "If you're a Mac user who suddenly can't access websites or run applications that rely on Java, you're not alone. For the second time in a month, Apple has silently blocked the latest version of Java 7 from running on OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard or higher via its XProtect anti-malware tool. Apple hasn't issued any official statements advising users of the change or its reasons, but it's a safe bet that the company has deemed Oracle's most recent update to Java insecure. That's why the company stealthily disabled Java on Macs back on Jan. 10, the same day a Java vulnerability was being exploited in the wild."

6 of 451 comments (clear)

  1. I sure the EULA will tell me I cant do anything.. by ganjadude · · Score: 1, Interesting

    But How is it ok for apple to disable software on MY computer, without my permission? I never told apple I wanted XX blocked, so apple should not know I have XX running to begin with. IF apple is blocking XX from my computer, without my permission, then is apple breaking any laws? unauthorized access to a PC for example? As My sig says, im sure its hidden in the EULA somewhere that apple can do this but to me, it is apple breaking into MY PC, and disabling software. That just makes me wonder what else apple has access to???

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    have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
  2. Re:Good for them. by kthreadd · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Ehm, doesn't Firefox also block vulnerable versions of Java? I guess maybe they are fascist as well.

  3. Re:Good for them. by tysonedwards · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Let's not let the facts get in our way.

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    Thirty four characters live here.
  4. Re:Old News by exomondo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If there are security vulnerabilities discovered in update 13 then it will likely be blocked as well.

    So why don't they block older versions of their operating systems when they have vulnerabilities? That one in iOS where you could root the device from a website was pretty severe, seems if their goal is protecting the user from malicious software they probably should have blocked that from the app store and other services until the users updated.

  5. Re:Old News by alcmena · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I'm sure that the fact that Java is the key technology behind Android development had nothing to do with Apple's decision.

  6. Re:Good for them. by Waccoon · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I find it funny how yet another Windows8 story ran last week, and there were many suggestions that businesses should all switch to the Mac.