Java apps can now be prevented from running in the browser

Oracle has released the newest version of its Java SE Development Kit (JDK 7u10), and apart from patching a few bugs, it has also introduced a couple of welcome changes that should make the hundreds of millions Java installations worldwide a little less dangerous for the users.

According to the update’s release notes, the new security feature enhancements added by Oracle are as follows:

• The ability to disable any Java application from running in the browser
• The ability to select the desired level of security for unsigned applets, Java Web Start applications, and embedded JavaFX applications that run in a browser, and
• New dialogs to warn users when the JRE is insecure (expired or below the security baseline) and needs to be updated.