Apple has announced it will be removing its default Java plugin from Safari, and other web browsers on Mac OS X. The update, called Java for OS X 2012-006 1.0, uninstalls the Java applet plug-in from web browsers. Users will still be able run Java applets via the browser however, if they download the plugin directly from Oracle. The update also upgrade’s the operating systems default Java version to the latest - Java SE 6 1.6.0_37.

The advisory says: "This release updates the Apple-provided system Java SE 6 to version 1.6.0_37 and is for OS X versions 10.7 or later. This update uninstalls the Apple-provided Java applet plug-in from all web browsers. To use applets on a web page, click on the region labeled "Missing plug-in" to go download the latest version of the Java applet plug-in from Oracle." Cyber-criminals have started to target the Mac OS however, whether by click-based attacks, or via third-party plugins.