The Java Runtime Environment has become one of the most exploited components of any operating system. Even the US Department of Homeland Security warns users to disable java unless they have a really good reason to use it. For most of us the days of Web sites requiring you to run Java applets has long passed. However, there still are a good number of desktop applications written in Java so simply uninstalling it is not practical. Instead, a good way to minimize your risk is to disable the Java browser plugins. That is the primary attack vector, meaning how Java is exploited, in most cases and closing that door will significantly improve the security of your device.
