Has apple blocked Java 6?

They are blocking anything below java 1.7.11.22

Yes, Apple has killed off Java 6 and 7, current versions, through their Xprotect malware facility.

For 10.6.8 users, the only 'fix' I have that works so far: Deleting the XProtect source file that lists the blacklisted Java (supposedly it can also be edited in Terminal).

Using Finder, go to System - Library - CoreServices and righ-click on CoreTypes.bundle. Choose Show Contents and then go into Contents, then the Resources folder in the new window that opens. Scrolling to the end will show Xprotect.meta.plist in the list, I deleted that file and then was able to run.

Upon a reboot this file will get re-built, however, so it isn't permanent fix. Going into System Preferences and Security, clicking the lock icon to change settings (enter password) and unchecking the 'Automatically update safe downloads list' prevents the file from getting rebuilt. This isn't the best bet for people who are not the safest of computer users, but it does allow the Java app's to run from their existing desktop shortcuts.

Here is a fast way to fix this temporarily:

Launch Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal)

Enter:

sudo /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Delete :JavaWebComponentVersionMinimum" /System/Library/CoreServices/CoreTypes.bundle/Contents/Resources/XProtect.meta. plist

Enter your Mac OS X password.

This deletes this file until Apple sends it to your computer again via XProtect (which is just the name of the file, Apple doesn't name this process to the public).

This DOES impact Java 6, as well as Java 7. All the news articles today state this is a Java 7 issue, which is incorrect.

THIS IS A NIGHTMARE FOR ENTERPRISE JAVA USERS. Oracle EBusiness uses Java as a web application. For Apple to do this, and not even give a head's up to their customers who utilize Macs for Enterprise, is horrendous customer service. A dialogue box that at least tells their users WHY Java has suddenly, in the middle of the day, quit working would be more helpful than the nonsense that happened today.

You could always just remove XProtectUpdater from /usr/libexec/ and that'll stop any changes from occurring after you change the plist file. Alternatively, change the StartInterval in the com.apple.xprotectupdater.plist file.😉

OK. I have a fix for you all that seems to work especially if you need Java 6u37 working on any computer Apple disabled it on. This will work best on 10.6 but can work on 10.7/10.8 as well.

Do not attempt this if you do not know what you are doing.

I will not be held responsible for your system if it stops working or you expose yourself to a virus. If you are a novice user, you attempt to do this, and something goes wrong, remember you were warned.

DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK:

Using whatever editor you want at command line as root or using sudo, you will need to edit:

/System/Library/CoreServices/CoreTypes.bundle/Contents/Resources/XProtect.meta.p list

Change:

To:

Change:

To:

And best of all, change:

To any date in the future. (Bad programming on Apple's part but repreive for those of us who have to support archaic Oracle based systems that won't work under Java 7+.) It won't update again until after the date you put in there.

DO NOT Delete any of the lines that have to do with version number because it will allow older versions of Java, which are not secure, to run. I would also not recommend that you change the date too far ahead if you are on 10.7/10.8 and are running Java 7 because the security holes in Java 7 are horrible.

Thanks SWS_SB!

As another who supports Oracle EBS 11.5.10 and r12 I have been shocked at Oracle's stewardship of the Java language and arctitecture. You know that there is a serious issue when their own applications are not compatible with Java 1.7, but yet have to run on 1.6 where there are known and serious security issues that they have ignored. And continue to ignore....

I want to blame Apple... (they should have had some sort of communication) but I know why they did this.

Regardless thanks for the wonderful fix. We are going to share with the rest of our Tech/Dev Team that use Macs and support Oracle EBS.

Michael

There is an update from Oracle if you are running the Java 7 plugin.

Java 7 plugin doesn't work for users of OS X 10.6.8. What now Apple? Upgrade or don't use Java content? I realize Oracle has declared end of life for Java 6, but users that are currently stuck at OS X 10.6.8 should be removed from your Java block tool from now on.

They've been blocked twice already, so if they choose to override, they are on their own.

Recommend installation of an AntiVirus product and be done with it. That is my suggestion.

Java 7 updated for 10.7-10.8

Released Feb 1, 2013, fixes 50+ security flaws

http://www.esecurityplanet.com/patches/oracle-responds-to-java-security-flaws-wi th-50-fixes.html

Download and install

https://www.java.com/en/download/faq/java_mac.xml

For Java versions 6 and below OS X 10.5-10.6 machines

Apple supplies their own version of Java. For Mac OS X 10.6 and below, use the Software Update feature available under the Apple menu to check that you have the most up-to-date version of Java 6 for your Mac.

https://www.java.com/en/download/faq/java_6.xml

Java SE 6 End of Public Updates

After February 2013, Oracle will no longer post updates of Java SE 6 to its public download sites. We highly recommend downloading and installing Java 7.

If your considering upgrading OS X from 10.6.8 to 10.8 via AppStore to run Java 7

Be forewarned no PowerPC based programs or driver software will run any longer.

Check here BEFORE you upgrade OS X!

http://roaringapps.com/apps:table

Alternatives if you must run Java 7

If Apple disabled Java 6 in 10.6, and you can't upgrade OS X to 10.8, then your pretty much done with Java in OS X because Oracle won't issue updates for Java 6 anymore.

However you can install Windows 7 and continue to use Java 7+ there until support for Windows 7 ends in 2020. 🙂

Windows in BootCamp or Virtual Machine?

If your on 10.6, I very highly recommend the free Virtualbox for the virtual machine software as it gets updates, VMFusion and Parallels have moved on with only 10.7+

Check Software Update...

APPLE-SA-2013-02-01-1 Java for Mac OS X v10.6 Update 12

Java for Mac OS X v10.6 Update 12 is now available and addresses the

following:

Java

Available for: Mac OS X v10.6.8, Mac OS X Server v10.6.8

Impact: Multiple vulnerabilities in Java 1.6.0_37

Description: Multiple vulnerabilities exist in Java 1.6.0_37, the most serious of which may allow an untrusted Java applet to execute arbitrary code outside the Java sandbox. Visiting a web page containing a maliciously crafted untrusted Java applet may lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the current user.

These issues are addressed by updating to Java version 1.6.0_39.

Further information is available via the Java website at http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/releasenotes-136954.html

I have run into the same problem and it is with NCWISE also. I am running 10.8.2 and I have tried the steps given by SWS_SB but they don't seem to work for me. Any other suggestions? Afraid to try the suggestion by alucasTHX because of the warning and not knowing what I'm doing but I need to use NCWISE and Java 7 has never worked. Very frustrating for this to happen suddenly.

Adam Brown1 wrote:

I have run into the same problem and it is with NCWISE also. I am running 10.8.2

Then I'm not sure why you are posting to the Snow Leopard (10.6) forum as the update just posted by Apple was only for Snow Leopard.

I have tried the steps given by SWS_SB but they don't seem to work for me. Any other suggestions? Afraid to try the suggestion by alucasTHX because of the warning and not knowing what I'm doing but I need to use NCWISE and Java 7 has never worked.

I don't have any information on whether or not they will post a similar update for Lion/Mountain Lion as they did for the last one, but that would be about the only other way you are going to be able to get Java 6 working with OS X again.

Be sure you read what ds storehad to say above about using Windows in a Virtual Environment. I doubt that it's a forever solution, but it might work long enough for developers to get their acts together.

As I understand it, NC WISE uses Pearson's PowerSchool which is the main problem here. I know for a fact that Pearson was notified months ago that they needed to update their software for Java 7 since Java 6 was at end-of-life. Do you know if they have made any progress? Ultimate, they must either upgrade or abandon Java for a more reliable, secure code base.

I didn't even realize that I was in the 10.6 forum so my apologies. I got here through a google search. My understanding from my county is that NCWISE will only be used through the end of this school year and will be replaced so maybe the replacement will use Java 7.

Thanks a lot, alucasTH. That works!! It's sarcastic that you can bypass Apple's Java block by simply editing a plist file. 😁

My need is to "run Java on Chrome on Mountain Lion 10.8.x." So first I'll have to revert to Java 6 by following http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5559 . Then follow your instruction to bypass the version check.

I'm really hoping Apple or Oracle would release an Java 6 update for OS X 10.7 and above, not just for 10.6.8 users. Best of all, Chrome on Mac should turn 64-bit soon.