Info: The Dangers of JavaScript

Learn how to enable JavaScript.

The article title makes JavaScript sound a lot worse than it actually is. JavaScript is pretty harmless. Unfortunately, in older browsers, control over enabling and disabling JavaScript was coupled with the enabling and disabling of ActiveX objects. ActiveX objects can be malicious and care has to be taken when allowing websites to run their objects through your browser. (Note: Most browsers will give you a warning to say the website is trying to use an ActiveX object and give you the option to allow it.)

So, what can JavaScript do?

As more and more people learn and understand how to use JavaScript - especially "AJAX" - cleverer and cleverer web applications are being made. As long as these applications are made with due care and attention, there is no need to worry. However, sometimes there are holes in their security. (Learn about XSS.)

Reasons for and against enabling JavaScript:

Against

Annoying scripts - This can be as petty as forcing you to click (i.e. to close an advert) which can trigger a new window, or it can be poorly written code causing your browser to use more memory and thus slow your computer down
XSS - If someone manages to hack a website you use they may be able to retrieve some of your cookie information via JavaScript the next time you use that site

For

Fantastic web applications - There are some pretty spectacular applications around which really help with day to day tasks (e.g. calendars, live feeds, social web). Although many of these tools allow limited usage for browsers with JavaScript disabled, the functionality will never be as good

Mark Wilson