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ActiveX
controls are small programs that serve many useful
functions. Some websites send these to your computer to
perform certain tasks that enhance your internet
experience. Unfortunately, spyware developers can use
ActiveX controls to harm your computer.
In order to
help protect you from bad ActiveX controls, each control
has an electronic “signature.” This signature is a code
that tells your computer that an ActiveX control is
being sent from a trusted source. Internet Explorer
lets you choose how it should handle ActiveX controls
based on their signatures. To set your ActiveX
preferences in Internet Explorer, do the following:
1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click “Tools” on the menu bar at
the top of the screen.
3. Click “Internet Options…” at the
bottom of the “Tools” menu. The “Internet Options”
window appears.
4. Click the “Security” tab at the
top of the “Internet Options” window.
5. Click the “Internet” icon at the
top of the window. The icons at the top represent
categories of sites for which you may set security.
6. Click the “Custom Level…” button
at the bottom right of the window. The “Security
Settings” window opens, and the ActiveX settings are
right at the top.
The
Security Settings window
7. Select the following options
under the “ActiveX controls and plug-ins” list:
|
Setting |
Safer
|
Safest
|
|
Download signed
ActiveX controls |
Prompt |
Disable |
|
Download unsigned ActiveX controls |
Disable |
Disable |
|
Initialize and
script ActiveX controls not marked as safe |
Disable |
Disable |
|
Run ActiveX
controls and plug-ins |
Prompt |
Disable |
|
Script ActiveX
controls marked safe for scripting |
Prompt |
Disable |
8. Click the “OK” button at the
bottom of the window. The “Security Settings” window
closes.
9. Close and restart Internet
Explorer to begin surfing using your new settings.
As with any
security settings, tighter restrictions mean more
limited functionality. After taking the above steps,
visit your favorite websites to make sure that they
still work normally.
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