inactive plug-in in all browsers with Snow leopard

What site?

I'm just guessing, but you may find the Java plugin stops working on more than just those 5, and very soon.

Apple created a blocker a while back that is used for stopping known vulnerable software from getting a chance to exploit your machine. That is, steal yer data (passwords, contact list, financials), turn it into a "bot" machine for nefarious deeds, etc.

If you are aware of the dangers of running a known vulnerable software product, you can make the decision to accept the risks or not use that software.

Comparatively few end users know of any vulnerabilities in their software, in anything resembling a timely manner, and could not reasonably therefore make a rational decision about the unknown risk.

Apple decided to block the current versions of the Java plugin (again), to help out.

You might want to check out the vulnerability/vulnerabilities first. Read this article very carefully:

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2013/01/for-second-time-in-a-month-apple-blacklists -java-web-plug-in/

The first paragraph is particularly important to read and understand.

Hi! YES! What's going on with this? All of the sudden all of my 10.6.8 Macs running the 1.6.0_37 version of JAVA SE 6 can't run JAVA?!? On all 3 browsers. Safari (5.1.7), Firefox (18.0.1) and Chrome (24.0.1312.57). We get the blasted 'Inactive Plug-in' error. And when we try to click on it, it automatically launches Software Update. But there's nothing in Software Update related to JAVA to updating JAVA to enable the plugin?!? Anyone know what's going on?

I have a son who works at Apple. He works on the development of software for the iPhone and has absolutely nothing whatever to do with this. However I did send them a copy of some of these messages and asked him to try to forward it to whoever would be the right person. Don't have the faintest idea whether or not it will help but perhaps. We are having the absolute identical problem. As a law firm we try to log on to the New York State Worker's Compensation Board and until yesterday have always been successful and we are now running into the absolutely identical problem. This needs to be resolved quickly.

My partner's laptop with the same setup still works. We think That the problem is she hit the "update all" on the software update and it attempted to install Java seven on her 10.6 system which will not work. When she went back to try to put in Java six bit just doesn't seem to recognize it. So, for now, when not sure if this is any kind of a solution but if you are given the option to update all of your software including the Java do not update the job. Of course if you haven't updated to Java you wouldn't be having this problem and is probably no reason in **** while you would be reading this suggestion.

So i found that by deleting the XProtect.meta.plist file, did the trick. Only problem is, when you reboot, it puts it right back. AND... there are concerns for security. But as a temporary fix, i'll take my chances.

Here's what you do...

Quit out of all browsers. Using Finder, go to System - Library - CoreServices and righ-click on CoreTypes.bundle. Control + Click CoreTypes.bundle and choose Show Package Contents and then go into Contents and then the Resources folder. Scroll down to the end and look for Xprotect.meta.plist in the list and delete it.

This problem just struck my MacBook Pro 10.6.8 yesterday. Java, used on my favorite chat site, simply stopped working. I had downloaded nothing special. Updated nothing (to my knowledge). Very strange.
Thanks for disabling my chat room, Apple.

Thanks for disabling my chat room, Apple.

You obviously mean 'thanks Apple for keeping me safe'

Apple has barred Java from running on Macs, leaving companies that rely on Java plug-ins out in the cold.

Apple blocked Java 7 Update 11 by adding it to the banned list in XProtect.

This is the second time in two weeks that Apple has blocked Oracle's code from running on Macs. This time Java is blocked through Apple's XProtect anti-malware feature.

Java has come under fire as the means by which hackers have been able to gain control of computers. In April 2012 more than 600,000 Macs were reported to have been infected with a Flashback Trojan horse that was being installed on people's computers with the help of Java exploits. Then in August Macs were again at risk due to a flaw in Java, this time around, there was good news for Mac users: Thanks to changes Apple has made, most of us were safe from the threat.

Unwilling to leave its customers open to potential threats Apple has apparently decided it's safer to block Java entirely.

Macs running OS X Snow Leopard and beyond are affected.

So is that the bottom line at this point ... I'm a bottom line kind of guy ... the website I used to use to access my company desktop from home from my mac will no longer run on my Mac due to java now being blocked by apple? The meesage I now get is "inactive plugin" on both safari and firefox when I try to log on. Anything I can do to get around this? Thanks.

In answer to your question, "Anything I can do to get around this?", and as you're a self-professed bottom line kind of guy, I'll just say yes. 😉

(for a slightly longer than bottom line answer:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4762493?answerId=21105324022#21105324022

It should be noted that this is not a fix to the Java vulnerability in any way, and that if you don't mind the possibility that your machine and the data thereon could be compromised through the vulnerability, then you can try this workaround to the current disabled Java plugin issue.

)