As said, it won't be on your system unless something requires it.
Having said that, the main problem with Java relates to running malicious code in the browser.
There is nothing inherently unsafe in having Java installed on your Mac, if it is disabled in your web browser. No more so than any of the other languages installed, such as Perl, Ruby, Python, and the Unix Shell, which can all run programs to do "Bad Things".
I don't think that is correct. I read recently about an exploit in a PDF document that used java to execute. You would not need a browser to open such a PDF and presumably if java is on the system, the exploit would not need the browser/plug-in to do whatever it does.
Considering it is problematic from a security standpoint and offers no benefit at least to me personally, I consider it a good idea to simply remove it.
This is a mid-2011 iMac which originally shipped with Lion and was soon thereafter upgraded to Mountain Lion. I never deliberately installed java that I can recall but I will check as noted above to see if it is present on this system.
Okay... I checked and it does not appear in System Preferences/Other so I presume it isn't installed.
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If you want to double check, go to System Preferences > Other (which is the fifth line down). With 10.8 if it's not in Other, you don't have it installed.
Also, go to Safari > Preferences > Security...and make sure "Enable Java" is NOT checked.
Thanks. It was enabled but I just unchecked it now. I notice Javascript is enabled as well. Does this carry the same risks as allowing Java itself? Is its use prevalent on Websites such as CNN, Amazon.com, Facebook, Macrumors, etc.?
I do not understand what the difference between Java and Javascript in Safari is or if I need to be concerned about allowing Javascript to remain enabled.
Thanks.