Is Java OK on a MacBook Pro running OSX Yosemite 10.10.5

Java is occasionally important to have on hand.

But here is the distinction: inside your Browser, it is prudent to shut it off and keep it off unless you know you will need it for something.

You do NOT need it for banking, credit cards, or any similar transactions. You may need it to play certain web-based simple games.

Javahas to be installed.

Search

https://www.java.com/en/download/faq/whatis_java.xml

And, there is forum for MacBook Pro, Safari, or OS X (we are not MBPr).

System preferences > Java ...

... wait for the new panel to open. Select the Security tab.

Uncheck [√] Enable Java Content in the browser

This keeps web pages from being able to launch Java "behind your back" and use it to hijack your computer.

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If it's any consolation to you, I honestly thought it was in the browser preferences, but once you mentioned it, I could not find it there either. So I went looking in the next-most-likely place and turned it up. I set that once in a Blue moon. If you ask me next week, i will not remember where it is.