[smoyer]

Java Applets were designed to give you the ability to execute a program on your computer from the browser in much the same way ActiveX controls could be used for exploits. Turn off Java in the browser and hope that JavaScript is sandboxed well enough.

[ww520]

Java Applets is not designed to give you the ability to execute a program on your computer from the browser in much the same way ActiveX controls could be used for exploits.

Only a signed Java applet can ask the user to give permission to access his computer.