Security issues are always in the news, and sometimes Java is a part of the story. Most Java exploits depend upon browser-related bugs, but it is always wise to stay current with the latest patches.
Here's one way to verify your distribution. You simply run the following command:
$ java -version
Then compare that result with the latest rev on the Oracle or Azul Systems download pages -- for Java SE 8 the output will be 8uNNN -- where NNN is a 3-digit number.
If your system is running an older revision of Java, you should update to the latest patch level as soon as possible.
