17th October 2013
Java, a software program that runs behind the scenes on billions of devices, has received a substantial security update which users are being urged to download.
Essential for running many other programs and functionality on many web pages, Java has become renowned as a target enabling cyber criminals and malware writers to take control of home and business computers alike.
The update – announced by software company Oracle earlier today – fixes 51 separate security bugs in the program, several of which were serious enough to enable criminals to assume remote control of computers.
Oracle has urged customers to apply the patch as possible "due to the threat posed by a successful attack".
The update can be downloaded via the main Java website. Apple has also released an update to the version of the software that runs on its computers – pointing users to the official Oracle version rather than the Java one.
