Re: Web browsers need a built-in firewall....
There are useful things that javascript can do, such as hide/display various bits of text and re-jig drop-down menus based on selections in other menus. That level of functionality does not need any ability to generate network traffic though.
One of the biggest dangers with javascript is the malicious scripts occasionally delivered by ad servers. If all the ad stuff could be done server side then (a) we'd be a lot safer and (b) ad blockers probably wouldn't hide the ads because they could be streamed in from the main site without any of the obvious flags of an advert.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
