Plug-ins and horrible FF 32: For example, tells me that Adobe Acrobat 10.0.0.396 is insecure

Question

I really, really, really hate FF 32 because it doesn't work right. That took me days to figure out. I couldn't figure out my problems at first--ran virus tools, etc., but it's FF. I tried for 2 hours (that I don't have) to figure out how to go back to FF31 but that seems to be impossible for a normal user. FF 32 won't go to many web pages, locks up, etc., BUT in addition, it doesn't like add-ons that are current and will not let me enable them: Acrobat as above (I have Acrobat Pro 10, not Reader, which conflicts with Acrobat Pro by the way so have Pro), Java Development Toolkit 6.0.250.6 "seems to be vulnerable" and of course Java platform. Please tell me how to get rid of the ridiculous security restrictions, which are causing me H_LL. Here's the thing. I don't want to use IE or Chrome, but Yahoo Mail will no longer work correctly with Windows 7. If you don't help me, I have to become a Chrome user. It's as simple as that. It's not allowing me to change the activation on the plug-ins or even activate the ones that are there automatically, which I really would not do in general. I'm not a new user, but this is TOO MUCH. HORRIBLE. Thanks. - Kay

Answer 1

Well I've never heard of the "Java Development Toolkit" plugin, but in case you meant the "Java '''Deployment''' Toolkit" -- you can delete this plugin without losing general Java content functionality in the browser. If you ''don't even need'' Java running in the browser, Oracle has a good guide on turning it "off" and all of these Java plugins will go away. That guide is located here: http://www.java.com/en/download/help/disable_browser.xml
I've learned that the Java Deployment Toolkit (also known as "Java DT") plugin is in fact considered "vulnerable" by Mozilla (and has been for a long time) but since that plugin is only designed for a specialized group of people, the default action of it being "blocked" isn't hindering the functioning of normal pc users (even in regards to the normal usage of Java.) Instead, they tend to get confused about the entire situation.
If you're interested in reading more about Java DT, there's a recent thread on mozillazine that talks about some of the security drama and confusion in regards to this plugin specifically. It also talks about the way to remove it too if you still need Java functionality in the browser. That thread is located here: http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=2877359 I'd also recommend just turning it all off via that guide from Oracle -- I have desktop applications that require Java but up until recently the only time I really needed Java running in the browser was for Pogo games...and I've since learned that due to the security hysteria and mass confusion in the past year, they're now transitioning to flash-based gaming instead of Java. (And whether or not Flash offers more robust security over Java would require a whole new thread. Hint: it doesn't really.)
Also, a side-note on [https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/user/philipp philipp's] answer -- I believe he is mistaking the standard Java plugin (the one needed for Java functionality in the browser) for Java DT. He mentions 1.6.0_25 which is an '''extremely old''' version of Java...version 6 in fact. To everyone reading this: these '''really old''' versions of software are full of security holes so it's best to update to the latest version, preferably Java 8 -- assuming you're still not on Windows XP. Everyone (again): if you're one of the 23% of people out there still on Windows XP, you seriously need to go out shopping as Microsoft security support for that OS ended earlier this year. The newest version of Java 8 is actually relatively good, even over version 7. You also can't get too comfortable with one version of Firefox either -- it's on a "rapid release" schedule so be prepared to deal with new GUI elements and other annoyances monthly. Being "annoyed" with Firefox just "comes with the territory" of using this browser -- at least at one point or another. You have to be prepared for constant change with Firefox because otherwise you'll miss out on the necessary security updates. Don't pretend you can live on [https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/organizations/ ESR versions] forever too -- these are not meant for the "individual user." In fact, [https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/33.0/releasenotes/ Firefox 33] just came out yesterday so you may want to try it.