HT5493 Java update and reverting to 1.6 plug in.

Question

Good afternoon.
After installing the java update this week I've realised it makes my Macbook useless for work. I regularly rely on a Corporate Information System at my University to access student records. This system is incompatible with Java 7, upon installing the update it directs me to install the plug in from Oracle (for which only java 7 is available) When trying to access the system it comes up with the following error, "requires jinitiator 1.1.8.2 or higher" Which I assume is a change between Java 6 and 7.
Spent a long time with the Universities tech support who couldn't help only to confirm that Java 7 is not supported (and even directed me to several .exe windows programs to update jinitiator, as well as to some malware). Apple Tech suport had no solution to the problem either other than to time machine back to before the update.
I have now used time machine to restore to prior to the update (which took 48 hours for 300GB!!!!!)
So ideally I would like to install the update (for various reasons, including security) but still have access to University system.
Can anyone provide any advice how I can do so?
Alternatively I suppose I will have to avoid this update, but I assume it is forever going to remind me. If that is the case then is there a way to permanently tell my macbook to ignore this update?
Any help greatfully received?
Kind regards
Josh

Answer 1

So ideally I would like to install the update (for various reasons, including security) but still have access to University system.
It doesn't sound like you can. If this is a web-based Java applet, there is no Java 6 applet plug-in anymore. Apple has removed it in this update, so you have no choice but to use Java 7 for web applets. If it is not a web applet, rolling back should work fine, but the system may be incompatible with the changes in the latest version of Java 6 as well. If you can't use the latest versions of Java, you will be forced to use a version of Java that is not only vulnerable to attack, but that the hackers of the world have now gotten a road map to (in the form of the update). Just because a vulnerability is patched does not mean that it stops being exploited... many vulnerabilities continue to be exploited for years, due to people who are unable or unwilling to install security updates.
Honestly, you shouldn't have to be forced to compromise the security of your system to use this software. You need to speak to people at your university at a higher level than just the techs, and explain to them how this system is compromising both university security and the individual security of every person who uses it. Scare them, and they'll light a fire under the techs to get this fixed.