Problems with the ActiveX Objects

ActiveX offers a number of benefits to developers as well as to web programmers which include developing unique and interactive web sites that are more productive and they also allow developers to quickly deploy web applications by using different programming languages. The plug-in functionalities of ActiveX allow it to be used the same way as Java applets, but with more control and additional web functionality. As you can imagine, using Activex over Java applets poses security risks. Hackers and malicious programs can easily take over your PC and collect personal information. It is also very easy to damage data and software on your computer as a result.

ActiveX problems can however be controlled when you consider the basic architecture of the ActiveX components. ActiveX problems with security sprung from the primary design of the embedded objects. Originally designed to run applications on a single computer, the security features were not given much consideration. When the technology was however adopted to share objects across various applications and platform, the security vulnerability became a real issue to contend with. To resolve these ActiveX problems, Microsoft has developed an ActiveX objects registration system that verifies and authenticates ActiveX objects prior to downloading them on the PC. Internet Explorer 7 and Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 have also had their security features enhanced to reduce threats associated with this problem.

The above measures taken by Microsoft however should not be considered fool proof. The security of your PC in the end lies in your hands. You need to install and configure your firewall so that unauthenticated and malicious ActiveX programs do not gain access to your system. Your web browser as well as your e-mail application should be configured so that no unsolicited ActiveX objects are executed and downloaded on your computer. Updating your antivirus and anti-spyware programs will also contribute to keeping your computer safe. ActiveX objects also tend to add malicious entries onto the registry and scanning it regularly using a registry scanner will prevent malicious code from using this channel to execute.

ActiveX problems have also been detected in the ActiveX updates that are released by Microsoft. For example, an access violation error may be experienced when using Google toolbar to close an interactive ActiveX control window. A similar problem is also experienced when you try to open a PDF document from a secure https webpage. These problems can be fixed by installing updates.