For a long time Java updates on the Mac have not been in sync with the ones on Windows, with Apple and Oracle operating on different timetables. Apple’s most recent update was two months later than Oracle’s, which was part of what allowed the Flashback exploit to affect Macs. However Oracle’s Henrik Stahl has announced the release of a Java SDK pack (Java Development Kit 7 and JavaFX Software Development Kit 2.1 included) to kickstart their expanded support for OS X.
This is the first time that Oracle have ventured directly into the OS X environment, and it means that the Mac should receive the Java updates at the same time that Windows does, which should prevent any malicious software like the Flashback trojan taking advantage of it.
The SDK is only compatible with Lion, so users of Snow Leopard will not be able to benefit from these upcoming updates, but it is still something that should improve the security of OS X overall, something that Eugene Kapersky said was ’10 years behind’ Microsoft.
If you’re running Lion and have checked for/removed any possible Malware that might be lurking on your system, you can download the JDK here.
