What is the Java TM Plug in SSV Helper

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 If my ATI video card driver is out of date and requires an older version of Java, then the older version stays on the machine during Java updates and the SSV aplet switches to the older Java version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.

My experience might help explain it's need or unneeded status: My ATI dependant Arkview external video processor, a USB item that goes to a big television to use it as a monitor for watching Netflix there in HD, was refusing to work after a recent Java update, and my computer was requesting JRE and requesting this SSV item install be activated when I tried to configure the video device, and then further requested an older Java be reinstalled. That gave me two Java installations at the same time, but the video worked.

Reading this site, I determined to go to ATI for new drivers.

After installing the latest drivers for the ATI device, I could uninstall the old Java and everything still worked. I couild disable the SSV Java aplet and everything still worked.

Functionality was preserved by the old Java version and the SSV aplet, but was unnecessary. It was better to update my drivers from the ATI source, after which the latest Java update was sufficinent to do what is needed, in a more secure fashion.

Incidentally, an ATI driver update offered by Windows Update had started my troubles, I've since learned to not install driver updates from Windows Update, but rather to use those prompts to tell me instead to go to the manufacturers web site for new driver downloads.

I use 64bit Windows 7 Professional and IE8, and try to be fully updated all the time.

Many thanks to the trech folks who take the time to answer dummies like myself, for whom troubles like these are so difficult to deal with.

???  Do you mean keep Java, or get rid of it?  I've disabled it for now and I can't see any difference.