If you are a regular reader of Scamicide, you know that Java software has proven to be a frequent target of hackers and identity thieves.  Java is a very popular software made by Oracle.  Unfortunately, it is also a software that has proven to be very vulnerable to being hacked by identity thieves and exploited for purposes of stealing information used to make you a victim of identity theft.  One of  the more interesting facts about identity theft,  as indicated by Kaspersky Lab, a security firm is that flaws in Java software were responsible for almost half of all cyber attacks by identity thieves and hackers last year.  The Department of Homeland Security has even gone so far as to advise people to disable Java or prevent Java apps from running on their computers.  However, many people still use Java for their work and personal computer use.  If you are one of these people it is imperative that you update your Java software with the latest security patches as soon as their are released.  Recently Java announced a new security patch, which you should install on your computer as soon as possible if you use Java software to help protect you from hacking and identity thieves.  Identity theft statistics show that if you install the security patch, you will lower, although not eliminate, your chances of becoming a victim of identity theft.

TIPS

Here is a link to the latest Java security patch information: https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/current-activity/2013/10/15/Oracle-Releases-October-2013-Security-Advisory

Unless you absolutely must use Java, my advice is to disable it.  You can find a link with instructions as to how to disable Java in my Scam of the Day for April 22, 2013 which can be found in the archives of Scamicide which you can access at the top right hand corner of this blog.

Here also is a link to a page where you can find alternative pdf readers that are safer than Java : http://www.pdfreaders.org/

If you still wish to use Java software, make sure that you check for and download the latest Java security patch at the link indicated above.  It will help provide identity theft protection.  Here on Scamicide I will provide access to these updates as they are released.