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I'm asking this because Libre Office was pre-installed and some of it's features require Java. I don't want Java because of a malicious remote administration tool (RAT) called jRAT and there are also others. But with this even a script kiddie can take control of my computer.

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Simple answer, Java is not installed by default in any Ubuntu system (in fact this goes against the Java distribution policy, that's why is being included in the non-free repository).

You can check the packages manifest of any version of Ubuntu, and you will notice that it does not include either JDK nor Java.

Precise Pangolin package manifest:

http://releases.ubuntu.com/releases/precise/ubuntu-12.04.3-desktop-i386.manifest

Raring Ringtail package manifest:

http://releases.ubuntu.com/releases/raring/ubuntu-13.04-desktop-i386.manifest

You can search the list up and down, and you will find no reference to Java (please don't confuse with JavaScript, that is different).

(Links are thanks to our friend Oli)

  • How does LibreOffice run, then?

    libreoffice suggest the package java-runtime for some specifics functions but isn't necessary the complete Java Virtual Machine. It also includes their very own packages with Java classes, scripts, and config snippets called libreoffice-java-common, but not all the suite require the packages (only writer and base). Hence, you can use most of LO without even installing Oracle's Java or openJDK.

  • Do you just mean Oracle Java is not installed? Is OpenJDK also not present?

    This was answered above:

    You can check the packages manifest of any version of Ubuntu, and you will notice that it does not include either JDK nor Java.

Hope this address all inquiries.

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  • Thanks for the edit. This is a very good answer! A couple points: right now it looks like the added quotes were the OP's words, so I recommend putting them in italics or making ### headings out of them instead of using blockquotes. (I do not need credit for them, though--this is only about possible confusion regarding what the OP said.) Also, regarding libreoffice-java-common: I believe this is a (totally legitimate and positive!) instance of a program shipping its own JRE. Couldn't someone with access use it for other Java software? Sep 4, 2013 at 23:48
  • @EliahKagan I think I should ask in security.se about that. But my hunch right now is that it isn't a java vm (the package is way too small), hence if you try to run arbitrary java code using that library, it will fail.
    – Braiam
    Sep 4, 2013 at 23:56
  • Just what I wanted to know. Thans!
    – Ufoguy
    Sep 6, 2013 at 6:03

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