Linked by Thom Holwerda on Wed 10th Oct 2012 23:47 UTC, submitted by MOS6510
"Java is a programming language that allows developers to write once and deploy everywhere - from high-end gaming desktops to smartphones. Its OS-agnostic and widespread nature is one of its strongest selling points, but one area where it can fall flat is performance. Generally, Java applications are not going to perform as well as native applications written for a specific OS. However, thanks to Project Sumatra that performance gap may soon become less of an issue."
Thread beginning with comment 538368
To view parent comment, click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
To view parent comment, click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Member since:2011-01-28
kwan_e,
"What if the JVM is connected and authenticated to a database when the malicious program gets control. A malicious program can use JDBC to get sensitive information from that database without needing to go native."
Can you elaborate the specifics of where this malicious program came from? The reason I ask is because we need to ask whether the same attack vector is significantly more likely to happen in java than a non-java program.
Did the administrator unknowingly install the malicious program in the first place? Did he install a trusted program that contains a remotely exploitable application vulnerability, which enables a remote attacker to install & execute the malicious instructions? Does the compiler contain a bug that can be exploited remotely execute malicious instructions?
All these things are possible, but ask yourself if Java is inherently less secure than other languages for running local programs. Escaping java's sandbox is bad, but are there any instances where using Java is worse for security than using another languages like C, which doesn't have any sandbox whatsoever? Is there something specific you think I'm overlooking?
Member since:2007-02-18
All these things are possible, but ask yourself if Java is inherently less secure than other languages for running local programs. Escaping java's sandbox is bad, but are there any instances where using Java is worse for security than using another languages like C, which doesn't have any sandbox whatsoever? Is there something specific you think I'm overlooking?
I would think that having a portable malicious program is a completely different kind of worse. Java (but you can probably say the same for other cross platform VMs) runs almost the same on any platform, basically amounting to a monoculture. Whereas a C program would be hard pressed to work exactly as designed even for POSIX compliant operating systems, let alone in a realistic environment where there's a mix of different server operating systems.
Member since:2009-05-19
It's not like it's one JVM for the whole OS. And there is no local IPC mechanism in Java. If the JVM is connected to a DB, then you it's already within your sandbox.
At most what you could do is steal the encrypted trusted keystore at most(quite useless without a targeted attack).
Member since:2007-02-18
If the JVM is connected to a DB, then you it's already within your sandbox.
So as long as the malicious program is in a sandbox, you wouldn't mind it having full access to the database's data?
You do realize that the biggest reward to be gained from security breaches is information, not control, right?
Features
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/13/13 14:35 UTC
The third and final WWDC product I want to talk about is - of course - OS X 10.9 Mavericks. While iOS 7 was clearly the focus of this year's WWDC, its venerable desktop counterpart certainly wasn't left behind. Apple announced OS X 10.9 Mavericks, the first OS X release not to carry the name of a big cat.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/11/13 17:07 UTC
We already talked about iOS 7 yesterday (after a night of sleep, it's only looking worse and worse - look at this, for Fiona's sake!), so now it's time to talk about the downright stunning and belly flutters-inducing new Mac Pro. As former owner and huge, huge, huge fan of the PowerMac G4 Cube - I haven't been this excited about an Apple product since, well, I would say the iMac G4. This is the Apple I used to love.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/10/13 23:13 UTC
Apple held its big keynote event thing at WWDC earlier this evening, but since I was away with friends I've had to read up on it later in the evening. The company announced iOS 7, OS X 10.9 Mavericks, and they gave a preview of the new Mac Pro. Especially the Mac Pro impressed me, and while iOS 7's new Holo/Metro-inspired theme looks messy and garish to me, I do commend Apple for finally breaking the mold. This news item will focus on iOS 7 - I'll dive into the Mac Pro and OS X 10.9 tomorrow (it's late here now).
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/08/13 14:57 UTC
And yes, the PRISM scandal is far, far from over. More and more information keeps leaking out, and the more gets out, the worse it gets. The companies involved have sent out official statements - often by mouth of their CEOs - and what's interesting is that not only are these official statements eerily similar to each other, using the same terms clearly designed by lawyers, they also directly contradict new reports from The New York Times. So, who is lying?
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/07/13 11:40 UTC
This story is getting bigger and bigger. Even though most Americans probably already knew, it is now official: the United States government, through its National Security Agency, is collecting the communications and data of all American citizens, and of non-Americans using American services, through a wide collaboration with the large companies in technology, like Apple, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and so on. Interestingly enough, the NSA itself, as well as the US government, have repeatedly and firmly denied this massive spying on Americans and non-Americans took place at all.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/04/13 12:45 UTC
Ah, patents - the never-ending scourge of the technology industry. Whether wielded by companies who don't actually make any products, or large corporations who abuse them because they can't compete in the market place or because they're simply jerks, they do the industry a huge disservice and are simply plain dangerous. According to The Wall Street Journal (circumvention link), president Obama is about to take several executive actions to address patent trolls - which may seem like a good idea, but I am very worried that all this will do is strengthen the positions of notorious patent system abusers such as Apple and Microsoft.
Linked by nfeske on 05/31/13 10:12 UTC
With version 13.05, the developers of the Genode OS Framework take measures to ensure that Genode continues to scale well with a growing number of users and the steadily broadening platform coverage. Further highlights are the improved SoC support for Exynos 5, OMAP4, Raspberry Pi, i.MX, and new components for realizing headless systems.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/29/13 16:59 UTC
At the D11 conference, Apple CEO Tim Cook once again took the stage to be interviewed by Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher. While most of the interview can be replicated by picking and reading 10 random Apple fanblog stories - there were still a number of very interesting things that warrant some closer scrutiny.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/24/13 17:26 UTC
So, the Xbox One disaster continues. Microsoft's policy for dealing with the used games market has reportedly leaked - and it's a clear and direct attack to destroy the used games market. Prices for used games will be set at the retail value of a new game, and retailers have to hook into Microsoft's computer systems and comply with Microsoft's terms and conditions.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/21/13 21:38 UTC
At an event earlier today, Microsoft unveiled the next Xbox - the third model, but confusingly named Xbox One. The big focus was TV, integrated Kinect, and all the other stuff we all expected to be forced down our throats. I think it took them 25 minutes to actually come to what should be the core of the story: gaming. Nothing groundbreaking in the gaming department, except for how Microsoft intends to handle the used games market and borrowing games from friends: pay up, buddy!More Features »
Sponsored Links
Member since:
2007-02-18
(Unless you are going to send a few emails or something like it)
What if the JVM is connected and authenticated to a database when the malicious program gets control. A malicious program can use JDBC to get sensitive information from that database without needing to go native.