ActiveX – What it is and why you may want it …
What is ActiveX?
ActiveX is a Microsoft Component Object Model (COM) architecture-based software module used to develop components that can be easily incorporated within different applications. The best thing about the ActiveX technology is that the components created using it can interact with other networked environments regardless of the programming language in which they are created.
ActiveX Controls are based on the ActiveX technology and are primarily used to develop Internet Explorer plug-in components. ActiveX controls are plugged into applications by using the Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) technology.
Why are ActiveX Controls Popular?
ActiveX controls are quite popular among Web programmers because they are easy to use and they enable programmers to develop interactive and user-friendly web pages. For example, with the help of ActiveX controls, you can create pages that can play Flash animations and MP3 and Real Player audio/video files, display PDF documents, and include many other interactions in your Web pages.
How to Deal with ActiveX Problems
Although useful, there are certain inherent problems associated with the ActiveX technology that can open up your PC for malicious access.
ActiveX technology was primarily developed to create components that were to be used by a single user on a single computer. Because of this, not much was done to include security in the original architecture. Later, when OLE was used to embed ActiveX components in web pages, it became a major security concern. What happens is that when you download and install an ActiveX control on your PC, the control has the same rights to your system as the currently logged on user. Therefore, if you install a malicious ActiveX control on your PC, you may open up your PC to a hacker, who may not only damage your PC, but may also cause damage to any other PC connected to your system through open shared folders.
Although Microsoft has taken many measures to counter the security threats associated with ActiveX controls, a certain amount of vigilance and preventive measures are required from you too. For instance, you must:
- Keep your PC updated with the latest software updates, patches, and service packs because these updates patch up security vulnerabilities discovered in the applications on your system.
- Implement a firewall to prevent malicious and unregistered ActiveX controls from downloading and installing on your PC.
- Increase the security of your Web browser and email programs.
- Avoid opening attachments that come along with unsolicited emails.
While working on your Windows PC, you may also receive many different types of Active X runtime errors, such as ActiveX error 429, and ActiveX Internet Explorer errors. To prevent and fix these errors, you must ensure that DLLs used by the programs generating the error are correctly registered on the system.
You must also use a registry cleaner tool to scan the registry for incorrect DLL entries and repair these errors. Also, if an update is available, update your operating system and the application generating the error. Finally, use antivirus and antispyware programs to regularly scan and remove malware infections from your PC, and enable real time protection provided by these programs to prevent any malware from infiltrating your system.
For More info:
http://www.instant-registry-fixes.org/active-x-control-benefits-and-drawbacks/
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