OverviewApplet Security Model
  Basic Security Model
JavaTM Plug-in supports the Java 
  2 SDK, Standard Edition v 1.4 security model. This means that: 
  - All applets are run under the standard applet security manager. This prevents 
    untrusted applets from performing potentially dangerous operations, such as 
    reading local files. See the Java Security 
    FAQ for details on the restrictions on applets.
 
  - Signed applets are allowed full access to the local system. See Deploying 
    RSA Signed Applets for details on how to use signed applets with Java 
    Plug-in.