For some time now, installing/updating Java prompts you to install the Ask.com toolbar and search page. After installation, this is offered each time you install a new update of Java, which can be very annoying. A somewhat undocumented feature is that you can disable these offers from the Java Control Panel, preventing future updates from prompting you to install this thing.

1. Open the Java Control Panel from the Windows Control Panel.
2. Click the tab Advanced, scroll all the way to the bottom.
   There, under the Miscellaneous section, check Suppress sponsor offer when installing or updating Java.
   

The old method of disabling Java updates through the registry or GPO, mentioned in this article is no longer valid for Java 7 (1.7) and 8 (1.8), nor does it prevent the UAC prompt from appearing when the updater runs in the background. The method explained here is a better, more up-to-date solution to completely disabling Java updates from running, and includes the required registry change to stop the updater from running, preventing the UAC prompt from ever appearing.

Disabling Java update from control panel is not as straight forward as it seems to be. Java update can only be disabled with administrative rights, so you need to run the Java control panel elevated. Since you can't do this t  ...

If you completely want to disable Java Update (which is especially useful on Remote Desktop Servers), you have make a few adjustments to the registry.

EDIT (2015-05-29): this method is depecrated, and only applies to Java 1.6 on Windows XP or older. Only the alternate method is still valid as this prevents the updater program from running.

To disable Java Update, navigate to the key (32-bit and 64-bit differs):

32-bit: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\JavaSoft\Java Update\Policy

64-bit: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\JavaSoft\Java Update\Policy

Find the value EnableJavaUpdate and set it to 0. This will disable Java Update in the Control Panel.

To prevent the update check  ...