Apple Pushes Out Urgent Java Update to Fix Chinese Hack on Mac OS X

By now you have probably heard of Chinese hackers attacking U.S. companies in what has become a media whirlwind of surprising news to all of us, even those on the computer security frontline. Recently, during the Chinese hacker infiltration, Facebook came under attack in what Reuters reportedly described as the "widest known cyber-attacks targeting Apple computers used by corporations." With this attack targeting Mac computers, Apple quickly responded with an update for their Mac computers for what was determined to be a security hole within the Java infrastructure.

History will clearly reveal to us that Mac computers do not have much of a past of being exploited by malware or hackers. In the past, somewhat due to computer consumers choosing PCs over Macs in most working and home environments, Mac computes were not on the radar screen for hackers. Today, things have shifted a bit where hackers now realize large U.S.-based companies, such as Facebook, utilize Mac computers on a grand scale opening themselves up for a targeted attack.

The attack carried out by Chinese hackers is one that places machines running the Mac OS X in their crosshairs. What has taken place is the virtual ammunition of the Chinese hackers has pierced the weak armor of the Java infrastructure on Mac systems. Basically, the security hole within Java on Mac OS X machines was one that allowed hackers to exploit the Java plug-in on Mac browsers. Currently, there is a solution for Mac users, whom Apple is urging to download and apply this update as soon as possible.

The update to resolve the Chinese hacking incident on Mac computers has been posted on Apple's website with simple instructions to download and apply the update. Even though, it is a rather simple process to update Mac computers who could potentially fall victim to this recent Chinese hacking spree, getting the word out to all Mac users remains the be the challenge at hand.

The Mac OS X update, Java for OS X 2013-001, is claimed to deliver improved security, reliability and compatibility by updated Java SE 6 to 1.6.0_41. Though that may sound like a broad Java and Mac OS X update, it is, in fact, a specific fix for Chinese hackers targeting Java's vulnerabilities on Mac computers.

The video below explains how the attack on Apple was not "just another attack."

Mac users can obtain the update through the App store or directly from the Apple website. A document provided by Apple on the security update has also been provided on the Apple website for additional technical information.