Oracle has finally announced its intent to nail the coffin shut on its Java browser plugin.

The latest release of the Chrome web browser, version 42, will block Oracle's Java plugin by default as well as other extensions that use the deprecated NPAPI. The Chrome 42 – available now – brings ...

Google Chrome 42 disables NPAPI support by default, and Project Spartan lacks ActiveX support entirely. Both of these changes prevent the use of Java in either browser.

The old Java plugin for Chrome that let you run java applets (basically simple java programs) in a web browser circa 2003 is going away, but that was basically dead anyway.

The Java browser plugin, which allows certain applications to run in your browser, is being retired later this year. It was a common security vulnerability.

NPAPI is an ageing technology used by, most notably, Java, Silverlight and the Google Earth plugin. It is being dropped largely because it is considered a potential security risk.

Learn how to uninstall or disable Java on your Windows computer and how to disable Java plugin in Chrome, Firefox, and Opera browser.

Chrome 42, released to the stable channel today, will take a big step toward pushing old browser plugins, including Java and Silverlight, off the Web.