[Vinnie]

I have programs and web sites that are dependent on Java (as opposed to Javascript).

I went in to Firefox and disabled javascript. Now I can't use my homepage in Excite.

What's the difference between java and javascript?
Can I use the ..script and not java?
running Macs if that makes a difference.

[palmer]

I went in to Firefox and disabled javascript. Now I can't use my homepage in Excite

Java is not javascript (the latter simply stole part of the name). Turn javascript back on and you will be fine as long as you don't surf to unknown potentially malicious websites which is a bad idea no matter what else you do.

Another thing to do is make sure your browser is the most up-to-date version, that way you should have no old but resolved issues with javascript.

[palmer]

running Macs

Then if you are using Safari, install click-to-flash. It disables Flash until you ask for a specific flash program to run. It also disables Java until you ask for a specific Java applet to run. It is a time, cpu and battery saver, it disables crappy animated ads (except animated gifs which are harmless) and saves you from getting pwned by malicious flash which would be just as bad as getting pwned by malicious java.