“Unless it is absolutely necessary to run Java in web browsers, disable it”, DHS-sponsored CERT team says

For anyone who is in any doubt, security experts are spelling it out in black and white.

The advice from the CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) at the Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute (who are sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security) is loud and clear – you should only be running Java in your browser if it’s absolutely necessary.

“Unless it is absolutely necessary to run Java in web browsers, disable it… even after updating to 7u11. This will help mitigate other Java vulnerabilities that may be discovered in the future.”

You will see similar advice in the advisory posted on the official DHS US-CERT website…

Read more in my article on the Naked Security website.

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Graham Cluley •   @gcluley

Graham Cluley is a veteran of the cybersecurity industry, having worked for a number of security companies since the early 1990s when he wrote the first ever version of Dr Solomon's Anti-Virus Toolkit for Windows. Now an independent analyst, he regularly makes media appearances and is an international public speaker on the topic of cybersecurity, hackers, and online privacy. Follow him on Twitter, Mastodon, Bluesky, or drop him an email.