Updating Sun Java

Older versions of Sun Java have vulnerabilities that malware can use to infect your system. Virtumonde (aka Vundo) often takes advantage of these vulnerabiities.

Please follow these steps to remove older version Java components and then get updated to the current version.

Click this link Java VM to test your Java version to see if you have the current version. Even it you do have the current version, make sure you uninstall old versions as stated below.


At the time of last update to this post, the current Sun Java versions is: Sun Java Runtime Environment 7 Update 1

Note Windows 98 or ME users, you cannot use the current version of Sun Java, you must use one of the older 5.0 update versions. The last one is available here: Sun Java Runtime Environment (9x\ME)

Step1: Download the current version but do not install it yet

• Download the latest version Sun Java here: Sun Java Runtime Environment
• Save it somewhere you can find it later.

Step2: Uninstall all old versions

• Close any programs you may have running - especially your web browser.
• Go to Start > Control Panel double-click on Add/Remove programs and remove all older versions of Java. Here are a bunch of examples of how older versions may appear. Uninstall all of these if found:
  • IBM 32-bit Runtime Environment for Java 2, v1.4.2
  • Java Runtime Environment 1.1
  • Java 2 Runtime Environment Standard Edition v1.3.1_02
  • Java 2 Runtime Environment Standard Edition v1.3.1_04
  • Java 2 Runtime Environment, SE v1.4
  • Java 2 Runtime Environment, SE v1.4.2_01
  • Java 2 Runtime Environment, SE v1.4.2_03
  • Java 2 Runtime Environment, SE v1.4.2_05
  • Java 2 Runtime Environment, SE v1.4.2_06
  • J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0
  • J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 1
  • J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 2
  • J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 4
  • J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 5
  • J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 6
  • J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 7
  • J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 8
  • J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 9
  • J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 10
  • J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 11
  • Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment 6
  • Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment 6 Update 1
  • Java(TM) 6 Update 2
  • Java(TM) 6 Update 3
  • Java(TM) 6 Update 4
  • Java(TM) 6 Update 5
  • Java(TM) 6 Update 6
  • Java(TM) 6 Update 7
  • Java(TM) 6 Update 8
  • Java(TM) 6 Update 9
  • Java(TM) 6 Update 10 thru Update 27
• Click the Remove or Change/Remove button.
• Repeat as many times as necessary to remove each old Java version.
• Reboot your computer once all Java components are removed.

Step3: Install the current version

• Exit all browsers (including this one so read the rest or print the instructions if you cannot remember them)
• Refer to step one and locate the file you downloaded. Double click on it and accept any license agreements and allow it to be installed.
• Do not allow it to install any additional toolbars ( like Ask Toolbar or similar if requested ) just uncheck that option during installation
• It take awhile for this to install so be patient. Do not run anything else while installing and keep all browsers closed while installing.
• After installing the current version, reboot if it tells you it needs to. It does not always need this reboot so don't worry if it does not ask you to reboot.