Basic HTML version of Foils prepared May 19 99

Foil 12 Downloading Software is Dangerous?

From Remarks on Internet and Java Security Basic Information Track Computational Science Course CPS616 -- Spring Semester 1999. by Geoffrey Fox, Mehmet Sen


1 So Java applets are actually safer than downloading C C++ or Java Applications as applets cannot access the local disk (unless there is an implementation bug!)
2 However Applets are so much easier to download as they happen automatically when the HTML page containing them is accessed. Thus they need much stronger security
3 Note that one typically assumes that downloading from a site such as Netscape MIT or Microsoft is safe but this can be spoofed due to internet routing!
4 Note that plug-ins are such C/C++/Java code and subject to security difficulties
  • A Macromedia Shockwave plug-in had a bug that allowed one to use it to read information on client computer and so violate (at least) confidentiality
5 Correct!
6 Rogue Site substitutes Evil Program

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