Java Runtime Environment: useful or not?

[stefan_waelti]

Hi

Do you have any use of SUN's Java Runtime Environment (http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp), or can you surf all the way without ever encountering any site requiring this technology?

Personally, I have it installed, but I surf without it being activated. I have it 'just in case'... But I have to admit I never activate it since I never encounter sites which use Java applets for display in my regular Web use.

What are your experiences with JRE? Please feel free to give examples of sites that do require it.

Thanks

[progress]

It happened to be necessary once or twice long ago, it was on... http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/online/ :)

[noone_particular]

Java can be very useful, both as a programming language and for image handling. A weather radar site I used had a java loop that displayed up to 12 hours of radar images. Now they use a flash based radar that isn't half as good. The NWS radar loops (http://radar.weather.gov/ridge/radar.php?product=NCR&rid=dtx&loop=yes) still use java. I also have several applications written in java that work very well. Several online AVs that don't use ActiveX use java instead.

Java isn't used as much on websites as it used to be, even though it is better than the format that's replacing it. The bigger sites started switching to flash based imagery shortly after Sun Microsystems started supporting Open Source. The whole thing looks like a backlash against Sun by the rest of the industry powers in an attempt to lock users into proprietary formats like flash.

Security experts used to complain about how easy it was to use java maliciously. Now they're finding that flash can be just as bad.

[Dark_Hanzo]

I barely visit any java-based websites in my daily surfing, but I definitely need java for MATLAB which I use almost everyday.

[mata7]

never need it

[demonon]

I needed it when I still played Runescape, but that was a long time ago.
Nowadays I have Java and plugins disabled by default.

[TOMxEU]

I allways used to have the newest version until I have found out, that I actually do not need it and having it installed might be a potential risk.

[YeOldeStonecat]

Similar to .NET Framework....it depends on what you run on your computer and what you do on a regular basis. Some software requires it, so you need it. Most people probably don't use software that requires it, or don't go to any sites that require it.

I use it several times a week to VPN into some clients that use Juniper SSL VPN appliances, which is a this VPN client that runs from within your web browser utilizing Java...launching from their portal website.

Many of my clients do online payroll of other accounting software which runs through a browser...requiring Java.

Some online browser based games run on it.

Depends what you do online. It's not really a feature more websites will have just for graphics...such as Flash or Shockwave...it's more for applications.

[SirPeterPan]

I use it not only for browsing: some of my installed software requires JRE. Examples: OpenOffice.org and FrostWire.

[funkydude]

Since it's yet another security worry for me, I no longer install it on machines. Sites rarely use it so I don't see why I should worry. :)

[nikanthpromod]

sometimes .
There are some programs based on Java. Thats y i used it.
Now i uninstalled Java and those programs and found alternatives.:D

[icr]

Never required to use JRE:dry:

[Carver]

I surf the web with JRE but deactivate Java and Javascript when I use a proxy or Tor, Java and Javascript can be used to identify you.

[culla]

i made a portable version of java when i want i can turn it on but generally i don't use it

[subhrobhandari]

Sometimes, maybe once or twice in a month. Though I leave it on for default.

[progress]

It's not necessary any more ... :)

[Carver]

-{ Quote: "It's not necessary any more ... :)" }-
Maybe it is not necessary, but it maybe desirable.

[blacknight]

" It happened to be necessary once or twice long ago, it was on.. " it was for a software - I can't remember while - that needed the JRE. I don't use it now.

[Creer]

Voted on:
"I sometime have to use it on specific sites, for instance..."

[ratwing]

I thank it is probably useful,but my Sandboxie sandbox used for daily browsing,is set up to only allow Firefox.exe to run/access the internet.

And I do not want to add Java to the start/run access internet list.

So in order to avoid browser freezes, that required me to kill Firefox via task manager,when I entered Java rich sites,I disabled plug-in:Java (TM) platform
SE 6 U20 6.0.200.2.

So,I guess it is disabled,but I choose not to uninstall it,although the dreck of updating,along with disabling all the crap services,add-ons,etc that goes with updating,makes me tempted.

In trade off mode,
rat