Java now needs to be enabled
 

Tried logging in today, fails saying I do not have Java enabled. Had no problem without Java before, why do they change it??

Re: Java now needs to be enabled
 

Ads? I block all ads so have no problem.

---------- Post added at 11:59 ---------- Previous post was at 11:58 ----------

I do not even have Java installed on my system

Re: Java now needs to be enabled
 

@tiz, please forgive me asking what I suspect is a silly question but why don't you use Java, and what do you use instead?

Re: Java now needs to be enabled
 

Well as it stands at this minute in time the only thing I use Java for is for uploading to Adrive and other online storage. All the vids I watch are Flash or HTML 5 anyway and I ont play Java games

Little tip though if you do use Java. Goto control panel and right click the JAva control panel and send to desktop this will create a short cut. Open it and disable the Java and then only enable it again when it is needed

Re: Java now needs to be enabled
 

I think that the request for Java was not meant to be. I have seen that on sites in the past that have been infected.

Re: Java now needs to be enabled
 

Hmmm, this site isn't exactly running smoothly, is it? :)

Re: Java now needs to be enabled
 

Thanks tiz. Have done as you suggested and disabled Java. I shall be interested to see which sites will need it enabled.

I used to get nagged to update to the new version of Java when I did a speed test on Thinkbroadband but I have just done a test and it didn't seem to make any difference that I did not have Java enabled.

Re: Java now needs to be enabled
 

Many websites have java based scripts in place, even for things like navigation menus (ugly solution as there are often better ways of doing it with standard html and css). If Java isn't enabled surely these don't work properly, if at all?

Re: Java now needs to be enabled
 

The latest Java update seems to have reset all existing permissions so sites that use java and was previously given permission now ask for that permission again.

---------- Post added at 18:06 ---------- Previous post was at 18:05 ----------

Most use javascript which is built into most browsers and not java itself.

Re: Java now needs to be enabled
 

have had three updates for java in the last fortnight .

Re: Java now needs to be enabled
 

:)

Re: Java now needs to be enabled
 

Easy to assume that java and javascript are the same thing but they are not. Then someone will be silly and throw jsp/java scripted pages in to the arena to confuse matters

Re: Java now needs to be enabled
 

It seems to me that nowadays Java serves no real purpose other than as a malware vector...

Best to keep any Java plugins disabled in browsers IMO, or not even have it installed in the first place.

It's not really needed for much now, in my experience. The only reason I even have Java installed still is that PS3MediaServer uses it.

Re: Java now needs to be enabled
 

Back to normal today:).

Must be the way Virgin implemented it, had no problem with gmail, which host Virgin mail.

I do not have Java enabled for security, although java script is enabled. As others have said, they are not the same.

Re: Java now needs to be enabled
 

Well, there is the Ask toolbar...

Re: Java now needs to be enabled
 

Problem back again today...............but my gmail accounts working. Just what are Virgin playing at??

Javascript error, but it is enabled......

Re: Java now needs to be enabled
 

I think it's perhaps pointing out that although they share a similar name and in some ways a similar code structure, Java and Javascript are quite different beasts.

Javascript is built in to all browsers and is often used for ads, and for other things like input validation, and navigation on websites. While it's got more powerful over time, it was originally intended as a language to enable websites to be a little more interactive. Javascript cannot (AFAIK) be used to develop applications that run outside a web browser.

Java is a more advanced language, and while it can be used to do things like provide web menus and ads, it isn't generally in my experience. Thus most people have no real need for Java, unless they are using a package that is partially (or wholly) written in Java. Java can be used to develop applications that run inside or outside a web browser. Java is not built in to any web browser, and needs a plug in installed on the computer to run it.

Java is, unfortunately, proving to be extremely good at distributing Malware. So much so that I personally think it's time Sun (the programmers) did what MS did a few years ago with Windows. After the security embarrassment that was XP, shortly before the release of Vista and Service Pack 2 for XP, Microsoft stopped all development on Windows. Then they did a complete security audit on all of their source code and ended up deleting and re-writing a lot of it. It meant that Windows saw no new features for several months, but security on both XP and Vista was improved massively over previous versions.

That's not to say that Javascript cannot be used to deliver Malware. It can. It just seems that Java is being hit hardest at the moment.

Re: Java now needs to be enabled
 

Thank you Stuart for that very interesting post. I have to admit to being very ignorant about a fair bit of IT 'stuff' and members of this forum are truly a mine of information. I guess I am akin to an awful lot of computer users, happy to use the machinery but I haven't any real idea of what goes on under the hood.

I do try to read-around any problems I have, and do Google anything that that is mentioned that I don't understand, but you have to know what questions to ask in order to get any information. All too often the information I track down is written in such a way that I end up having to Google the explanation before I can get it into words I understand. :dunce: :D

So just in case I have ever failed to thank you guys enough for all the helpful posts you make to us 'Joe Bloggs' of the world ...... Thank You one and all. :tu:

Re: Java now needs to be enabled
 

Most people do not need to know anything :)

Most computers I have built are still working some 10 years old or more. I always give the buyer a set of applications to keep the system clean and tidy and they always come to me if they have issues. A good 80% of the machines I have built have only ever had software issues the rest perhaps a dead hard drive failed memory mobo or PSU. I have only ever had 2 or 3 dead cpus.

(figures pulled out of nowhere so most likely bobbins lol)

Re: Java now needs to be enabled
 

The problem seems to be back, anyone else having javascript error trying to sign in?

Tried to get faults to look at this, told that I will be charged for the fault to be passed to the correct team!!

Re: Java now needs to be enabled
 

Working again, they must have fixed it:)