14 DAY TRIAL // A new security notice from Cupertino, California concerning Java on Macs reveals that Apple has once again updated the web plug-in blocking mechanism to disable the newest Java OS X implementation.
Updated just recently with brand new security patches (after being barred countless times by Apple), Oracle's latest Java implementations appeared to be cleared for another takeoff on Apple’s Mac OS X.
The Cupertino company itself released Java 2013-002 for OS X 10.7 and 10.8, as well as Java Update 14 for Snow Leopard earlier this week.
Java for OS X 2013-002 “updates the Apple-provided system Java SE 6 to version 1.6.0_43 and is for OS X versions 10.7 or later,” the company said in an advisory.
Java for Mac OS X v10.6 Update 14 “updates the Apple-provided system Java SE 6 to version 1.6.0_43 for Mac OS X v10.6,” according to a separate Support document on Apple’s site.
Two days later, Apple blocks Java yet again. Apparently, there’s some concern regarding the security of the latest updates.
The company’s mailing list this morning delivered the following message to subscribers: “OS X: Java Web plug-in blocked. Due to multiple vulnerabilities in: Java 6 update 41 and earlier; Java 7 update 15 and earlier."
"Apple has updated the web plug-in blocking mechanism to disable versions of Java older than Java 6 update 41 and Java 7 update 15," Apple adds.
The company says customers can find more information at two included links, yet the documentation is yet to be updated to reflect these changes.
It is worth noting that this is the third time Apple blocks Java in less than a month, and the second time it happens in a week’s time.
If Java blocking has become such a routine practice at Apple every time Oracle pushes out new builds, we fear the worst for Java’s future on Macs.