What is ActiveX? ------- a problem?

[UTUSN]

I linked an article from Newsday into an e-mail and started getting a message, "Your security settings don't allow for ActiveX and (something something) might not be viewed properly" or somesuch.

I Googled and it's a MS product. Is this something to do something about? At least to get rid of the messages.

Don't hold back on being witheringly condescending about my ignorance ---------let'er RIP and be VERY specific and LITERAL about what steps to take. Thanks for any consideration.

[Chan790]

1. No, it's not anything important.

I intentionally turned mine off months ago, along with Flash and Javascript, as a lot of websites use them to run those annoying animated pop-up, pop-under or otherwise intrusive ads. Also, ActiveX controls can be exploited to install trojans, spyware and/or viruses without your permission. It's one of those things that the computing world would be better off if Micro$oft would just stop using in their OS.

It's a series of protocols for object linking and embedding (previously it was called OLE 2.0)

OLE allows an editor to "farm out" part of a document to another editor and then reimport it. For example, a desktop publishing system might send some text to a word processor or a picture to a bitmap editor using OLE. The main benefit of using OLE, next to reduced file size, is the ability to create a master file. References to data in this file can be made and the master file can then have changed data which will then take effect in the referenced document.

Its primary use is for managing compound documents, but it is also used for transferring data between different applications using drag and drop and clipboard operations. The concept of "embedding" is also central to much use of multimedia in Web pages, which tend to embed video, animation (include Flash animations), and music files within the HTML code. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ActiveX

[UTUSN]

2. Thanks!1 But how do I get rid of this annoying message? n/t

[Chan790]

3. I don't know.

I still get the message.

[UTUSN]

4. HahahahaHAH!!!!!!1

That reminds me of a friend years ago. I said this warning light had turned on in the car. She said it was probably nothing to worry about, that what SHE would do in such cases was to let it wear itself out!!!!!!!1 Thanks!1

[KT2000]

11. Wear itself out !!!1

That's a good one.
I was ready to take my new used car to the shop because it kept "chiming." Oh yeah - I left the lights on.

Don't feel bad about ActiveX. I have no idea why it exists and I just try to get out of the situation that caused the message to appear - even if it means turning off the computer.

[Benfea]

5. Why not just use Firefox with NoScript?

There's no need to disable Javascript completely. Just use the NoScript plug in with Firefox and you can set permissions domain-by-domain for allowing scripts to run.

[GirlinContempt]

6. Yeah no shit

[Chan790]

7. I do usually at home

but a large part of my job requires me to use IE. Firm policy. etc. My boss is an old technophobe and he "gets" IE so we all have to use it too. He told me that if he caught anybody installing "viruses" by which he means software he doesn't understand, we were fired. Same moron makes me keep paper records because he's intimidated by Raiser's Edge.

[UTUSN]

8. bECAUSE i DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? N/T

[Chan790]

9. Firefox is another browser.

It's free and a competitive (in many ways superior) product to Internet Explorer.

It allows your to download or create your own sub-applications to customize it to your needs. One of these is the previously mentioned NoScript, which allows you to tell Firefox whether to run Active-X, Flash or any other scripted content every time you visit a new webpage.

Fore more information:

http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/

[astral]

10. And you can have them both

You can keep I.E. and have Firefox too so either browser can be used, for those insecure about the whole thing. Also, you need to keep I.E. on your computer to get Windows updates because it won't let them run on Firefox.

You can then make Firefox your default browser, if you wish.

[rucky]

12. Sneak into a Russian airforce base and steal a Mig...