What is the Java TM Plug in SSV Helper

Chuck thanks for responding to the question as asked instead of to a question that wasn't asked.

I am on my home PC and have no plans to use it so it will be turned off.

Thanks for posting a response that is actually helpful.  It perfectly describes EXACTLY what the item in question does (as opposed to describing what Java is, which was not the question) and how one's situation would--or would not--be changed by disabling it. 

Excellent information--it perfectly summarized the information I needed.

I think what haooens is this: Windows update offers a driver update and it gets onto a zillion computers, Then a couple bugs are found in the driver update, and the manufacturer of the device the driver update was for fixes the bugs right away. The manufacturer almost always has different version numbers than the Windows Update site has, and more recent than the Windows Update site offered.  I've found this to be especially true for ATI video cards. If my ATI video card driver is out of date and requires an older version of Java, then the older version stays on the machine during Java updates and the SSV aplet switches to the older Java version rather than the new one for the ATI video card. My computer slows down by running two Javas at the same time then.

You definitely need Java Runtime Experience, or Java for short, on your computer. You might need two or three versions of it if you have very old hardware connected and need to update the drivers for that very old hardware.  But Java gets updated to prevent hackers from building trojans or viruses that exploit weaknesses in it. So they recommend all old Java versions be uninstalled. Because of security issues, if you have old Java still installed and find your hardware not working when you uninstall the old Java keeping only the new, or when you disable that Java SSV component, then you need to get new drivers for your hardware, from the manufacturer of the hardware. Do a web search for the manufacturer and the words "drivers" and "support" and you'll find links to download and install the latest ones there on the manufacturers website support page. Then the older Java versions can be uninstalled without messing up the hardware, like my old ATI video cards and my external video adaptors. Then you're safer from new trojans and viruses that your antivirus program might miss. All is good again.