Apple Releases Java 2012-005 for OS X 10.7 and 10.8, Update 10 for Snow Leopard

Apple has released two separate Java updates for its Mac operating system, patching a zero-day vulnerability documented by hackers recently. The updates instruct web browsers not to run Java applets automatically.

Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 10 is said to deliver “improved security, reliability, and compatibility by updating Java SE 6 to 1.6.0_35.”

According to Apple’s technical note discussing this particular release, “This update configures web browsers to not automatically run Java applets.”

The Mac maker notes that customers can re-enable Java applets by clicking the region labeled "Inactive plug-in" on a web page.

“If no applets have been run for an extended period of time, the Java web plug-in will deactivate,” Apple states.

Customers are asked to quit any web browsers and Java applications before proceeding with the installation.

Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 10 targets OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. You can download the update by visiting the link below.

Download Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 10

For OS X Lion and OS X Mountain Lion customers, Java for OS X 2012-005 is provided.

“Java for OS X 2012-005 delivers improved security, reliability, and compatibility by updating Java SE 6 to 1.6.0_35,” Apple states.

“This update configures the Java plug-in to deactivate when no applets are run for an extended period of time. If the prior update named ‘Java for OS X 2012-004’ was not installed, this update will disable the Java web plug-in immediately,” reads the company’s technote.

As with the Snow Leopard release, Lion and Mountain Lion users must also quit all Java-powered apps to install this update.

Supported languages for the two updates include Deutsch, English, Français, Español, Italiano, Nederlands, Dansk, Norsk Bokmål, Polski, Português, Português Brasileiro, Pусский, Suomi, Svensk, Thai, Türkçe, Ukrainian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

Download Java for OS X 2012-005