Conclusion

Java, JavaScript, Flash, and Shockwave are here to stay. Although Java will probably never live up to its initial hype, Java-based stock tickers, mortgage calculators, and graphing agents provide web developers with convenient and reasonably secure systems for moving computation from the web server to the end user’s computer. Likewise JavaScript, despite some initial bumps, has shaped up to be a reasonably secure system for implementing shopping carts and providing client-side form validation.

Because of the risks that arise from buggy implementation and the poor track records of Java and JavaScript to date, we recommend that none of the mobile code systems described in the chapter be used in high security environments. However, most Internet users can probably use these technologies without much fear—provided that they are careful to download browser updates when security problems are discovered.

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