For example one security restriction is that applets aren't allowed to read files. If an applet calls a native method then that native method can read any files it wants. I'm talking about the model, not about the quality of implementation. I'm not saying it's a bad or untrustworthy thing to do (call native methods), I just thought it was worthwhile to point out that once you call a DLL from an applet, you have effectively chosen to disable the application level SecurityManager. It's your call as to whether this is a problem or not.
I was right in the first message... it is a reputation thing. We don't disagree on any of the fact here, just on their implications. I see this from the point of view of the author of these native methods, cypherpunk still do write code sometimes. From that point of view where is the difference between calling my native code methods and calling the java.awt.*, or netscape.* methods that are native code? Yes, either can do anything they want, irregardless of the SecurityManager. For J. Random User on the net, Sun/Netscape's reputations are fairly strong and mine is non-existent. For the corporate IS folks to whom I contract this situation is reversed. (Despite impressive IPOs I still get a lot of friction about 'programs downloaded from the net'.) -Blake