How to Turn Off Java to Improve Security

This updated guide examines How to Turn Off Java to Improve Security and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Based on Java vulnerabilities, individuals can conduct activities that are harmful to your computer. Even available kits are being sold online so anyone can do this by installing malicious software that steals information. Recently, Mozilla also defaults to blocking Java plug-in on Firefox version 18.0.

The easiest way for users to turn off Java on their own computer is on this software itself. Since Java 7u10 version, you can access the Security panel under Settings and uncheck the box " Enable Java content in the browser". This will immediately block any Java application from launching.

Alternatively, you can turn off Java on the browsers you are using.

Firefox

If you are using Firefox, go to Tools , then click Add-ons . When a dialog box appears, select Plugins. If you are using Windows operating system, select Java Platform and click the Disable button . If you are using Mac OS X, you can click the Disable button to turn off J ava Plug-in 2 for NPAPI Browsers or Java Applet Plugin . Also, disable the plugin called Java Development Toolkit.

Chrome

Type in the following address bar to see if Java is present on your browser. If yes, click the Disable button below to automatically turn off the entire Java and Java Development Toolkit plugins.

Safari

On Safari, you only need to do a single job to disable Java. In the Preferences section , access the Security panel , uncheck Enable Java to do so.

In addition, Apple has by default removed Java from OS X Lion and Mountain Lion operating systems with a software update in October.

Opera

For Opera, you can force this browser to ask your opinion whenever Java wants to launch at Settings. Then select Preferences , Advanced and select Enable plug-ins only on demand. However, this option will cause all plug-ins, not just Java, to ask you when they want to work. This can be annoying for some users.

Internet Explorer

In Microsoft's browser, Java disabled operations are a bit complicated because of the registry modification. You can create and run a .reg file as follows:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTJNLPFile]

@ = "JNLP File"

"EditFlags" = hex: 00,00,00.00

The above code changes Internet Explorer security mode to consult you when Java wants to work. If you want to continue to disable it further, delete jp2iexp.dll file in the following directories:

C: Program FilesJavajdk {version} jrebin

C: Program FilesJavajre7bin

C: Program FilesOracleJavaFX {version} Runtimebin

Next, delete the .dll files whose names start with npjpi . For example, npjpi170_06.dll.

Delete all Java on the computer

The safest option is to completely remove the Java program on your computer. Windows users can go to Programs and Features or Add / Remove Programs , depending on the version of the operating system, to delete Java from the list of installed applications.

For Mac users, turn on the Finder and find JavaAppletPlugin.plugin and delete it in the trash. You need to have administrative privileges (Administrator) to perform.