Java Plugin 1.4.2 does not allow applet to query proxy info. from browser settin

Netlet(applet) component of Portal server needs proxy info. from browser
settings to be able to establish secure TCP/IP tunnels. IE is using plugin
with "Use Browser Settings" set to true under "Proxies" in the plug-in Control
panel. And IE browser contains a pac file with the proxy info. The plug-in
Control panel does not have any content in the proxy or pac file fields.

Attempt to read the Browser Settings directly from the applet, results in
Security exceptions. And there is no way to get this proxy info. from the
plug-in either. (no fecility to query this info. via any exposed api)

Wihtout the plug-in we could query browser settings directly from the applet.
However when using plug-in the applet cannot get browser setting info.
(Either from the browser directly or from the plug-in.)

This causes a regression on our software when customers use Java Plugin
with "Use Browser Settings" set to true.

We need the applet to somehow be able to query this proxy info.