How to disable Java in Mac OS X 10.5 and lower

All Mac users that have been using the platform since the 1980′s are too aware of the malware available for older Macs. Since Mac OS X’s release way back around 2000 malware has been a memory. The current Java VM that Mac OS X uses has a flaw that Apple patched last week.

Apple is going in the right direction with Gatekeeper in Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion with their sandbox feature. Until then, we can protect ourselves by either applying the Java security update patch or disabling Java in Safari.

If you have an older copy of Mac OS X (10.5 Leopard and older). My advice is to just disable Java for now in Safari to protect your Mac from any Java based Trojan Malware.

To disable Java in Safari:
- Select the Safari menu
- Select Preferences (or press Command + , )
- Click the Security tool bar button
- Under Web Content, uncheck “Enable Java”
- Close any open windows and restart Safari.

To disable Java in Firefox or Chrome you will need to disable Java from Plugins in the Add-ons area or settings.