Simple yet Effective Methods to Solve Java Security Issues

November 26, 2014 by

Ali Qamar

It is true that Java cannot take credit in being among the safest options to use online, due to the vulnerabilities that emerge within its applications on a regular basis. Third-party code libraries are used for enriching Java, and this is the major reason why such an environment is regarded as quite dangerous for most computer users universally.

If you wish to contemplate on the impact that third party apps and added code can have on Java, you can think of the Heartbleed Bug that has shocked us quite recently. A single vulnerability in the OpenSSL software library resulted in affecting the vast majority of web users all around the globe. So, we'd better be safe than sorry, and thus we ought to pay more attention to the issue of Java security.

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This is why we have completed this guide on some simple and effective methods that you can use, in order to prevent Java security issues from being raised and deteriorating the performance of your computer. Join us and make your web surfing a lot safer, after having secured it from Java threats all around!

Simple Methods You Should Follow

• Uninstalling Java: This might come as a surprise to you, but many people have got Java installed without actually needing it. If you are among those people, please take the time and uninstall it from your computer! This will save you from a lot of trouble in the future and it will make your device run smoother and without any threat lurking in the dark.
• Using a Specific Browser: If you still have to keep Java installed, it would be prudent of you to use a specific browser for the sites that require it. For the rest of your web surfing patterns, you should use a different browser. This minimizes the chances of your computer being compromised due to the vulnerabilities of Java altogether.
• Disabling Java from Your Browsers: For all the people who have just realized that their only need of Java comes when they use their desktop for something like Minecraft, there is a solution to Java security problems that applies to you! This process is quite simple and involves you clicking on the Java Control Panel and then heading to Settings, in order to unclick on Enable Java content in the browser.
• Keeping Up to Date: It is wise of you to update Java if it is impossible for you to do without it. Having the latest version of Java will help shield you properly, in case of vulnerabilities that used to be unsolved but have now been taken care of. So, make sure that you check for updates in Java on a regular basis (preferably every single day) and schedule Java to do so automatically.
• Enabling Click per Play: When this is possible, you should make use of special plugins that assist you to control Java fully. To be more specific, there are certain plugins (found in Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox) that can block Java for you. Java will only be unblocked upon your approval and this allows you to be the absolute controller of its use. The same applies of course to the use of Flash, if you are interested.
• RASP for Thorough Security: Apart from all the above mentioned guidelines and simple methods that you can use for remaining immune to Java security breaches, there is another solution that you should take into severe consideration. Indeed, there is an innovative approach that is called "Run-time Application Self Protection". In short, this is RASP! It is introduced by Waratek and it is a reliable online security solution for Java, causing no actual damage to the coding and still maintaining the integrity and safety layer of the app.

These are some truly easy methods to comply with, so as to make sure that Java does not pose any threat to you whatsoever in the long run. Of course, not all of them are equally effective or require no effort at all. Still, you should go ahead with weighing both the pros and cons of Java and then deciding what you wish to do next.

It is quite possible that some of you will get to decide that it is not worth the trouble; some others will try to improve their overall security by following what we have displayed above and some others will try to dig deeper and come up with even more intriguing stuff (assuming that there is anything else that we have not covered or anything that has not been discovered till now, but is bound to make a huge difference in the future!)

We advise you to read carefully through these instructions and put them into effect as soon as possible (because the sooner, the better!). Do share with us your experiences and let us know which methods you have found more useful and which ones you have actually tried out.

Either way, Java can be truly intimidating and harm your computer due to the lack of a solid and safe environment. So, do not stay idle, and instead try to make the most out of your own personal online protection! You deserve to work and have fun online all the time, without risking anything because of Java!

Sources:

http://techbase.msu.edu/article.asp?id=18942

http://securitygladiators.com/2014/10/27/heartbleed-attacks-and-protection-against-such-menace/