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This appears to be for Lion only. Aren't other Mac OSs also affected?

Where does it install the app, or is the installed the app?

 CLS9, on 16 April 2012 - 07:31 AM, said:

It is Lion-only because it is aimed at Lion users who have never installed Java. Some earlier variants of Flashback do not involve Java.

Java was installed by default pre-Lion. Those who have Java are covered by the recent Java update--which also includes the same removal tool.

 k88dad, on 16 April 2012 - 12:41 PM, said:

My understanding is that the Java updates that solved these issues for systems with Java installed were only released for OS X 10.6 and 10.7. People with 10.5 or earlier with Java installed have not had any Apple-supplied update to resolve this issue, if indeed it does exist on the older OS versions. I'm not sure if 10.5 and older systems with Java installed are at risk or not. My sister runs an old G4 powerbook with 10.5.8 that I hope to check out next time I see her, and I'll have to use the manual method of checking for the problem via the terminal that I've seen posted, rather than any standalone tool, since no such tool for 10.5 and earlier systems exists as far as I can tell.

Bottom line: It seems users of system running 10.5 or earlier are on their own as far as Apple is concerned.

Jon

How do I know if Java is installed on my computer? I downloaded the OSX 7 from the apple website and it installed itself. I don't remember if I had any options.

 lindro, on 16 April 2012 - 02:10 PM, said:

Java would not be installed by default. You would have had to go to Apple's site and download "Java for OS X Lion", or something similarly named. If you didn't do that, you likely don't have it.
However, as a quick check, you can run this command in Terminal-

java -version

If you get something like:

Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_31-b04-415-11M3635)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 20.6-b01-415, mixed mode)

then you have Java installed. If you get returned to the command line prompt with no output, Java is not installed.

This post has been edited by MorrisTheCat: 16 April 2012 - 09:22 PM

 jonyo, on 16 April 2012 - 12:51 PM, said:

If Java is installed then it is at risk.

There is a tool to check for Flashback in 10.5. It was released before the official Apple release. It was reported on in earlier Macworld articles on this subject. Here is a link:

https://github.com/j...ackChecker/wiki

I realize that a Powerbook G4 cannot run a version of OS X past 10.5.8. The Powerbook is anywhere from six to eleven years old. I use a 2006 iMac that can run 10.7, but desktops are usually supported longer than notebooks.

Apple has historically supported the two most recent versions of OS X. Currently, that is 10.6 and 10.7. Soon, 10.8 will be released, and support for 10.6 will likely be dropped. The reason is that the vast majority of Mac users use a recent version of OS X. To date, that has been an accurate assumption. The logic is that Apple will provide better support if they limit the number of versions that they simultaneously support.

Many people have no use for Java. One approach is to simply disable Java on the system. Here is a link to Apple info on Java in 10.5.8:

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3489

I recommend that you do two things: Make sure that Java is up to date for the Mac, using Software Update. Disable Java, using the Java Preferences (mentioned in the link.)

This post has been edited by k88dad: 17 April 2012 - 08:18 AM

 RickC, on 16 April 2012 - 11:25 AM, said:

I'm having a hard time finding it too. Does it go to work right after you install? I'd like to run it, but can't find it.

Creatively renamed ! Sure... and one knows what it is about !