Go into Google and whatever browser you are using (I use Firefox) and then I know that Firefox has a "Tools" button up at the top. then I went into the "add-ons" section of tools. Then look for any add on that says anything at all to do with Java and go to your right and click "disable". Other apps might also be vulnerable as well like silverlight apps and shockwave apps (if they are older shockwave versions) so you might want to click "disable" on all of them as well.
As per NBC Nightly News Saturday night January 13th. I suppose if this is just too much for you and you don't want someone taking over your computer and don't feel competent to do all this you might just unplug your computer for now.
However, just turning off the browser and going out of anything being up on the internet also prevents someone "Remotely taking over your computer" and rifling through it for passwords, bank accounts and other financial information.
How to turn off Java applets
By default, Firefox allows Java applets to launch automatically. However, you may decide that you do not want Java applets to run. To disable Java applets in Firefox:
- On the menu bar, click on the menu, and then click . The Add-ons Manager tab will open.
- In the Add-ons Manager tab, select the panel.
- Click on the Java Plug-in 2 for NPAPI Browsers (Mac OS 10.6) or Java Applet Plug-in (Mac OS 10.7 and above) to select it.
- Click on the button (if the button says , Java is already disabled).
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end quote from:
http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/How%20to%20turn%20off%20Java%20applets
Check Your Plugins
Keeping your third-party plugins up to date helps Firefox run safely and smoothly.- Step 1: Click Update to update a plugin.
- Step 2: Complete all recommended updates before restarting your browser.
| Plugin Details | Status | Action |
|---|---|---|
Frequently asked Questions
What is a plugin?
- Plugins power videos, animation and games.
- They're built outside of Firefox by companies like Adobe Systems and Apple.
- Plugins don't always update automatically.
Why should I update my plugins?
- Old plugins can interrupt browsing and waste your time.
- Old plugins increase your risk for attack by malware, viruses, and other security threats.
- Updated plugins have improvements that make the web better and safer for you.
How can Firefox help me?
In the future, Firefox will update plugins for you. Until then, you should regularly check this page and update your plugins to stay safe.Which plugins do I have?
We automatically detected your plugins above, to view your installed plugins in Firefox follow these steps:- Open the Tools menu.
- Choose Add-ons.
- Click the plugins tab.
How do I disable a plugin?
In Firefox:- Open the Tools menu.
- Choose Add-ons.
- Click the plugins tab.
- Click on a plugin in the list.
- Click the Disable button.
Have more questions?
Our support site can help you learn about plugins or troubleshoot plugin problems.Help us Spread The Word
Spread the Word with a Badge
Help protect your friends! With a badge on your site, you can:- Use JavaScript to detect plugins
- Warn people if they have outdated plugins!
How to Use a Badge on Your Site
- Choose from the sizes below.
- Copy the code below the badge.
- Paste it into your blog or other website.
end quote from:
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/plugincheck/#howto-disable
This is what I found for my Apple Computers mostly Imacs and laptops. I still have some questions I need to ask my son like, "What about IPADs? Are they too vulnerable to Java Applets?" I"m not sure about the answer to this yet.
Answer: IPads don't use Java so it doesn't need to be disabled.
Note: my son was a Computer tech until he got his Nursing degree with a Bachelor of Science, so he keeps up on all the tech stuff. He said that likely most computers in the U.S. would not be attacked but would tend to be targeted one by one. The big banks online systems would be attacked because there is only one system interconnected for each banking system. Because of this military hackers from various countries would attack each system in concert to create denial of service so either people couldn't do online banking or people's banking would be recorded somehow overseas including acount numbers and balances or both ways etc.
In fact, there is no way to know just how much information nations who wish to do harm to the U.S.
already have. To me, this could be problematic if all the information was used against the U.S. in a single day. However, that likely couldn't work because all accounts are being opened and closed and money is going into an out of all or most accounts. So likely this kind of information would only be useful for any one weeks time. Because by the time a month or more has gone by most information has changed about 20 times or more already.
Here is another blog quoting a news article regarding: Who is Hacking U.S. Banks? 8 facts
Important note: Remember if you "disable" Flash you won't be able to watch Youtube videos. So, if you have done that and want to watch youtube videos go back to Flash and Click "Enable"
Later: I realized I had disabled the Flash on my wife's IMAC desktop computer. So she couldn't run any videos. So, I re-read this article regarding Firefox and "enabled" the Flash and tested it at Youtube.com and found videos could play again on her computer. In some cases you might need to download "Flash" or a newer version of flash which is available for free many places online.
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