Find out if Java is actually being used on a PC?

[JustInspired]

Is there a way to find out what programs (if any) are installed that rely on Java? Or do you just remove it and let the customer reinstall it (if necessary) or wait for them to complain that something doesn't work?

N.B. I just ran the pop-up Java update from the tray on a customer's PC and it complained that Group Policy was preventing the updater from running.
This was probably because I'd run CryptoPrevent on it to stop exe files from running in %appdata% etc

* I was able to update Java with Ninite though so it must use a different method/location

 

[NOOB_TECH]

Not the answer you're looking, but a lot of applications use Java. I pasted a link below.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/how-big-a-security-risk-is-java-can-you-really-quit-using-it/4749

CrashPlan Pro, an online backup service, uses a Java-based client on OS X and Linux. Java is not required for the Windows client.

Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 is one of several widely used Adobe programs that require Java. This language appears in a support document at Adobe.com:

OpenOffice, a free alternative to Microsoft Office, uses Java for many features. The main download page notes that the JRE is included in all versions except those for Linux and OS X, adding this explanation:


Java is required for complete OpenOffice.org functionality. Java is mainly required for the HSQLDB database engine (used by our database product Base) and to make use of accessibility and assistive technologies. Furthermore some wizards rely on Java technology.

 

[FoolishTech]

This topic has me interested as well.

As an aside, on CryptoPrevent and Java updates, yes that's an ugly thing and I haven't figured out what to do about it yet. I've read in a few places about people using the Cryptolocker Protection Kit (before I coded CryptoPrevent) where some sysadmins were trying to create whitelist rules for the java updater. The problem is that the java updater will be a slightly different filename each time, and unfortunately it appears that (either a serious bug or very poor and undocumented intent) in Microsoft's Software Protection Policies prevents wildcards in filenames from working in whitelisting rules -- although they do in fact work with blacklisting rules... otherwise I would have this in CryptoPrevent already and that's why I explicitly state wildcards are not permitted in manually added whitelist rules, because they simply won't work. Thanks Microsoft.

 

[Go-To Gordon]

I use patchmypc for all updates and install it on all my clients pc's. I put CryptoPrevent on all my pc's last night (great little tool btw!). anyway my laptop's java and many other things were outdated. I ran patchmypc (after running CryptoPrevent) and java updated just fine.

 

[FoolishTech]

It is confirmed that v2.6 or above of CryptoPrevent does not block java updater. Just FYI.