Java for OS X Lion 2012-001

Same with me. I downloaded it from macupdate.com and Apple and got the warning "There may be a problem with this disk image"

Like you, I did not install

Java 2012-001 is available from software update.

It downloaded and installed just fine.

You must close all browsers and any application that is using Java before it can be installed.

I've checked my Safari plugins and it shows java version 1.6.0_29. However if I click on java preferences in Utilities it says I must install java runtime and asks if I want to do so. I cancelled that and ran Software Update which shows no updates available. I'm not encountering any web sites or apps that are giving me any java warnings, do I need to do anything?

Open Terminal and copy/paste this:

java -version

It should come back with java version 1.6.0_31

If it still says _29, you are not updated. Try software update again or download it directly from Apple's download site: http://support.apple.com/downloads/

I went back to Utilities and clicked on the Java preferences which again gave me the message that I needed to install java runtime. I clicked on the install and saw that it was downloading the new version - 31 - and it installed. The preference pane shows version 1.6.0_31-b04-413. So I'm assuming I'm up to date although in the Safari installed plugins I do not see that specific version, I see many java applet versions but the only one quite like this is 1.6.0_29. I did go to a Java test page and it showed the 31 version working. When I tried that test before clicking on that "install runtime" it was just a blank window.

I have the same issue as the OP. This was with the update

file downloaded directly from Apple. This was also after a

reboot and was the first thing that was done was to attempt

the install.

Did not procede further by openning the .dmg image. Deleted

and redownloaded the file again with the same result.

Is the image on the Apple server borked?

As a check, tried to mount some previously downloaded .dmg

files and the mounted without issue.

Also, downloaded the file just before posting this.

This advice from the Apple support folks was not the best.

The software update was not available becasue it was not installed on your system in the first place (Lion does not come with Java installed, and SW updates only show for relevant systems). If you do not need Java, then there is no reason to install and subsequently update it, especially since doing so potentially opens up more vulnerabilities. The support person's advice about it being needed is incorrect.

Now that you have it installed you can disable it in the Java Preferences, but there was likely no reason to install it in the first place. All you did here was install an unnecessary and unused component in order to update it and then disable it, and as such have done absolutely nothing to help your system.

I think you're right. When Software Update showed no updates available I guess it was because there wasn't an active version of Java on my system even though it was listed in Safari's Installed Plugins. When I clicked on the java preferences and got the message to install runtime I should have just ignored it and left things alone. I hadn't been experiencing any issues that I was aware of. But it's now installed and I'm assuming no harm done.

The only harm is potential undetected vulnerabilities that might be uncovered in the future. This latest update fixes such a vulnerability that was actively being used by malware to attack Mac systems, and there might be similar ones that could be found at a later date. However, this is still a guess, and as it stands you have closed the known vulnerabilities in the software and simply having it on your system (especially in a disabled state) is a neglegable risk.

Is there anyway to remove Update 2012-001 and revert to the previous version, short of doing a complete Time Machine restore?

I use the Stanza Book reader on my iPhone nearly exclusively and I use the application Stanza Desktop to add files to the reader. I also use the desktop app to perform quick and dirty file type conversions, such as mobi to epub or epub to text, etc., etc.

When I installed the Java update, Stanza desktop broke at the file Stanza.app/Contents/MacOS/JavaApplicationStub and I need to get the app back up and running.

Unfortunately, Stanza Desktop is no longer available from the author (and probably won't be updated, ever) and the iPhone app now relys solely on iTunes for adding files to the unit.

Suggestions?

From all that I have researched so far, the consensus was that the warning is from Lion since Java is not originally installed with it. It is just telling you that your system may be less secure after you install it. Granted, it is an odd way of saying that though.

I went ahead and installed the newest package downloaded from Apple Support 2012-002 even with the warning and it all works fine. I could not open Adobe CS3 without Java and also need it to do certain deposits at banks. You can always disable it in Safari preferences and, more importantly, in Utility/Java Preferences when it is not needed.

Hope that helps.