I try to keep the Java Runtime Environment from being enabled in an effort to help protect my computer from malware that attempts to load via a Java applet. Every now and then, typically when using remote meeting software or the like, I need to temporarily enable Java.
Typically, this involves opening Control Panel, running the Java Control Panel, selecting the Java tab, clicking View and either checking or unchecking the “Enabled” checkbox for the version of Java that’s installed on my Windows 7 system.
I’d like to write either a couple of batch scripts or a powershell commandlet or so that I can save myself a bunch of clicks when I want to toggle Java on when I need it enabled, and then to run another script to toggle it back off again when I’m done.
What is the checking and unchecking process modifying when I’m doing this? A registry entry?
If you are only concerned about applets, simply disable/enabled Java in the browser. They can’t be started from other programs anyway.
For Firefox you can use an extension like NoScript of PrefBar to make this easier.