Trusted Versus Untrusted Classes

J/Direct divides all loaded Java classes into one of two categories:

  1. Fully trusted (indicating maximum permissions).

  2. Untrusted.

Only fully trusted classes are allowed to use J/Direct. A Java class is considered fully trusted if one of the following statements is true:

  • The class is digitally signed indicating full trust. An example of such a class would be a signed applet.

  • The class is installed on the target computer's CLASSPATH or installed by the package manager. A downloadable, digitally signed library designed to be shared among multiple applets could meet this criterion.

  • The class is running as a non-browser application using the JVIEW or the WJVIEW application.

An unsigned applet on the Web, on the other hand, constitutes untrusted Java code.