How to Install an ActiveX Controller
Some of the more feature-rich websites may require you to download and install an ActiveX controller to use certain features. ActiveX controllers can be installed in most browsers, but not necessarily in all of them. Downloading and installing them is actually quite easy; the real challenge lies in making sure that you actually want to install them, because each controller has the potential to do harm to your computer.
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Instructions
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1
Open any Web browser.
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2
Navigate to a site that requires unique ActiveX controls. You won't necessarily know which sites these are, but chances are that you will navigate to one eventually. This is okay, though, because there is no benefit to installing ActiveX controllers unless it is to view or use certain specific websites that require them. You will know you have navigated to such a site if a window pops up that asks you if you would like to download and install the ActiveX controller.
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3
Determine whether or not you can trust the ActiveX content, because this technology can be used for malicious purposes. Ask yourself if you know and trust the website you're visiting. Look at the window prompting you to install the content to see if the ActiveX controller's publisher is identified. If it is not, or if it is a publisher you do not trust, do not install the controller. If you are unsure you can trust the website or publisher, conduct searches on both of them in another window to determine if they are trustworthy.
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4
Determine if the site is secure and examine its SSL certificate. Most browsers feature a small graphic of a padlock somewhere on the window; when the lock is open, the site is not secure, and when it is closed, it is secure. Only download content from secure sites. To see the SSL certificate of a site, double-click the closed padlock icon. Compare the URL to which the certificate is issued to the URL of the site you're visiting. If they do not match, do not download or install the controller.
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5
Download and install the controller only if you're sure it can be trusted. To do this, simply click the install button on the prompt window that came up in Step 2. The download will begin automatically and the installation will begin immediately after. You'll be notified with another prompt window when the installation is complete.
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Restart your browser only if prompted to do so by another window. These windows will usually present you with a button that enables you to restart the browser with one click.
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Tips & Warnings
Always use a reputable anti-virus and anti-spyware program with active protection. Keep this software running when installing ActiveX controls to help catch malicious software.
