Is it time to Active X enable your Web browser? Sometimes, when you visit a Web site, you’ll see a pop-up window asking your permission if you want to download Active X controls. Knowing what Active X is and how it affects your computer security can help you decide whether or not you should allow the download.

What Active X Controls Do
Active X controls allow programmers to create applications that may be useful for Web browsing. For example, many pages that display a video or music player that’s built into the page are using Active X controls.

However, Active X, a Microsoft product, is available only for Windows users surfing on Internet Explorer. Active X allows programs to communicate with your Windows operating system over Internet Explorer. For that reason, Active X isn’t an issue for Mac users or those who prefer the Firefox Web browser.

Choosing Or Denying Active X
Active X is something that automatically downloads. You can decide which programs that utilize Active X can be downloaded. These programs are known as Active X controls and can be created to perform any number of tasks. When you visit a Web site that uses Active X controls, you’ll be prompted with a pop up box where you can decide to allow the control access to your computer or not.

Before you decide to allow it access, make sure you trust the source it’s coming from. Some of these programs can be harmful. For example, hackers can use Active X controls to install malicious software on your computer, so it’s important that the download is coming from a reputable Web site.

Once downloaded, you can always disable any controls by accessing the Tools menu from the Internet Explorer toolbar and selecting Manage Add-ons. Here, you can view which controls have been downloaded and disable or enable the controls as you see fit.

Active X enabling Internet Explorer can enhance your computer experience by allowing you to enjoy certain programs. However, you must be vigilant because you don’t want to give hackers access to your private information.