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In a msg of , Bill Christensen writes to Steve 
ccrystal:
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Bill,
 BC> A Java applet, that lands on your machine, does NOT have the
 BC> ability to read your disk drive, let alone write to your
 BC> drive.  A bug free Java Virtual Machine, running on your
 BC> machine, will not allow the downloaded applet code to do any
 BC> reading or writing to your drive(s).
According to a good friend of mine who writes Java code (among other 
languages) for a living, it is not only possible, but it is being done as we 
speak!
 BC> I think you are mistaking a Java applet with an ActiveX component.  A
 BC> malicious ActiveX component can take over your machine.  But
 BC> so far ActiveX components can only run on Windows machines
 BC> running IE.
Now, why doesn't that surprise me?  It's not something I'll have to worry 
about, mind you, but I'm not surprised at all.
 BC> The fact that a browser will allow cookies to be deposited on your
 BC> drive is due to the browser
I mentioned cookies only as an example of what can/does happen without the 
knowledge of the user.  While cookies are not in and of themselves malicious, 
I do seriously question their potential usage.
 BC> and has nothing to do with any Java applet that was/ or is  running
 BC> on your browser.
Well, at least we can agree about that! :^)
 BC>  So lighten up and let those applets in.
Not in this lifetime - or at least not as long as someone can write Java 
applets that run on *my* machine.
-[Steve]-
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