Java, Not the Same as JavaScript

Photo by Michiel Leunens on Unsplash

There has been a lot of talk about Java in the news lately; the US Department of Homeland Security issued a statement to tell people to uninstall or disable the plugin from their computers to protect themselves from a security break in the system. But before you go disabling everything with ‘java’ in the name, take a minute to learn a little more about this technology. Java is the software that was affected by the security breach, not JavaScript.

What is Java?

Java, also known as Java VM or Java Applet, is a cross-platform programming language that allows web developers to write code that can be read by PCs, Macs, Unix, and Linux computers without having to be translated. It’s one of the most popular programming languages because of this feature. Many websites use Java and require users to download plugins to run their site’s programs. The plugins act like apps for each site’s unique program.

Many bank and gaming sites, for example, require users to install a software plug-in to run their programs. Other sites like gotomeeting.com, webex.com, and join.me.com also require Java plug-ins. This is the Java that may be susceptible to hackers, and this is what was recommended to disable in your browser.

How to Disable Java in:

  • Chrome: Open Chrome, type chrome://plugins in the location bar. Find Java, click Disable under the name.
  • Firefox: Open Firefox, go to Tools > Add-ons (or just Add-ons). Click the Plugins tab. Click the Java plugin(s) and click disable.
  • Internet Explorer: Open IE, go to Tools. Click Manage Plugins. Show all items. Disable Java Plugin.
  • Safari: Open Safari, click the Safari menu, and go to Preferences. Click the Security tab and uncheck the box next to Enable Java.

What is JavaScript?

JavaScript is a scripting language that programmers use to create dynamic websites and dynamic features on websites. JavaScript and Java use some similar names in their language, but the two are otherwise unrelated and have very different functions.

If you disable JavaScript on your computer, you will have problems. It is a very common programming language, and without it, you will not be able to view many websites properly.

Should I Be Really Worried?

As of January 14, Oracle released a statement saying that they have patched Java, so users of the plugin don’t need to worry anymore. Other sources continue to say be cautious. We recommend the same, for now, until Oracle has definitely fixed the problem. Stay tuned for more updates.

View Comments (4)

  • I used your suggestion and went to Internet Explorer and disabled everything that said Java. There were 4 previously enabled. None of them refered to Javascript. I hope I did it right. old person karen

    • It sounds like you did everything correctly, Karen. Thanks for letting us know. Glad the blog was helpful!

    • Thank you for your question, Regina. There has been some recent news regarding the Java bug. It looks like Facebook was the target of the attack. Check out this article in PC Mag: http://securitywatch.pcmag.com/none/308172-facebook-attackers-exploited-java-zero-day-bug

      As far as what to do now, the best thing to do is to keep your computer up to date. There are still many sites and tools that rely on Java, so if you want to reinstall the plugin just make sure you also protect your computer. Make sure you install operating system and security updates regularly as well as all other software and anti-virus updates.

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