Active X Control

[jimmy1jag]

Hi,

I've got an issue with Active X controls. When I run a dynamically updating web page eg on Briefing.com, with the sound alert on, and an update to the page comes through, I continually get the message, "Do you want to run an Active X control?" I then click on OK and after a couple of seconds the sound alert comes through. This is a pain as I want the noise to come through to alert me to the fact that the page has updated rather than having to go and check it. I.e. I like to have it running in the background. From what I can gather, this seems to be a security measure for protection of your PC. Has this come through as a result of a recent Windows update and how can I turn it off?

I run Windows XP with all the latest updates, with the Windows firewall turned off (running Zonealarm).

Has anyone had any similar experiences and knows how to turn this damn thing off?

Many thanks,

James

 

[notouch]

Is this something that started yesterday after you installed windows updates? If so it's probably the result of a windows update that stops activex control running automatically. Something to do with a court case that Microsoft recently lost.

 

[oatman]

Reset your security levels to default.

 

[jimmy1jag]

Reset your security levels to default.

Thank you Oatman and No Touch

Just noticed that the default doesn't allow unsigned active x files. Only the low setting does. What are the dangers of putting it on low?

Will give it a try though.

This started about 10 days ago, coinciding with installing a Windows update. Not being a techie, I tried disabling all the Active X add ons. This only resulted in me getting empty boxes with an x in the corner where pictures (gifs etc) should be.

 

[Trader333]

Switch to using Firefox it is much better


Paul

 

[notouch]

Thank you Oatman and No Touch

Just noticed that the default doesn't allow unsigned active x files. Only the low setting does. What are the dangers of putting it on low?

Will give it a try though.

This started about 10 days ago, coinciding with installing a Windows update. Not being a techie, I tried disabling all the Active X add ons. This only resulted in me getting empty boxes with an x in the corner where pictures (gifs etc) should be.

From http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/5071656.stm

Legal woes

Another of the updates has come about as a result of a courtroom clash between Microsoft and Eolas over technology in the Internet Explorer browser. The lawsuit ended with a $521m (£283m) judgement against Microsoft.

Microsoft had to re-engineer Internet Explorer to stop a technology known as ActiveX automatically starting when users visit some websites.

Before now, users could choose to apply this change to their browser, but this update makes it mandatory.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Are you sure putting your security setting to medium wouldn't work? If you have to put it to low make sure you don't visit any porn, warez, serials, cracks etc websites.

 

[oatman]

Test your Active X installation here.
http://www.pcpitstop.com/testax.asp

Just ran this security check http://bcheck.scanit.be/bcheck/

 

[bjseed]

Jimmy1jag
Just a quick thought, is it a windows or ZoneAlarm message you are getting?

Trader333 is correct, however there are some sites that just don't work with Firefox.

 

[jimmy1jag]

Switch to using Firefox it is much better


Paul

Thanks Paul,

You're right it is a lot better. However, it doesn't like the scanner I use, or, should I say, the scanner doesn't like Firefox as it doesn't update. Not knowing a great deal about the technology the scanner is built on, could it be that it only runs on IE? Or would I have to do something in Firefox to configure it to make it work?

Test your Active X installation here.
http://www.pcpitstop.com/testax.asp

Just ran this security check http://bcheck.scanit.be/bcheck/

Oatman,

Thank you too. I just ran the security check which was fine as well as the pcpitstop thing. I tend to be bit sceptical about these scan things which seem to serve the purpose of creating a need for you to part with some money. Maybe it's just my cynical mind

From http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/5071656.stm

Legal woes

Another of the updates has come about as a result of a courtroom clash between Microsoft and Eolas over technology in the Internet Explorer browser. The lawsuit ended with a $521m (£283m) judgement against Microsoft.

Microsoft had to re-engineer Internet Explorer to stop a technology known as ActiveX automatically starting when users visit some websites.

Before now, users could choose to apply this change to their browser, but this update makes it mandatory.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Are you sure putting your security setting to medium wouldn't work? If you have to put it to low make sure you don't visit any porn, warez, serials, cracks etc websites.

Notouch,

The root cause of my woes (actually it's a minor irritation really as I can still see the web site updates as they come through) has to be the windows update which I downloaded last week. I guess this now leaves the providers of services like briefing.com, scanners with sound alerts etc pondering as to how to get round this issue.

Setting to medium, unfortunately, does result in IE asking if I want to run a check every time there is an update with the sound alert turned on.

Anyway, thank you all for your help.

James

 

[jimmy1jag]

Bjseed

It's a windows message.

 

[oatman]

I never pay.