Are you wondering, how do I install Active X on my computer? Well, the answer is pretty simple. You don’t have to. Active X isn’t a program or application per se; it’s a set of controls that work with your Web browser. Let’s take a deeper look.

Active X Plus Internet Explorer
First off, Active X is a Microsoft product that is compatible only on computers that use the browser Internet Explorer with a Windows operating system. If you’re a Mac owner or if you use Firefox as your browser, Active X won’t work for you. Active X automatically downloads when you access certain sites through Internet Explorer. You’ll usually be prompted with a box asking if you want to allow Active X controls to download.

What Active X Actually Does
Allowing Active X to download can do different things. Active X is like a framework on which programmers can design different applications. Active X gives these programs the ability to utilize Windows functions. Essentially, Active X allows Web programs to communicate with your PC. A popular use of Active X is to allow the playing of videos right on a Web page, without accessing another program like Windows Media Player. In a sense, they are similar to Java applications, but, while Java runs on a Virtual Machine and is isolated from your operating system, Active X uses your operating system.

Checking Authenticity Of Active X Sources
Before choosing to download any Active X controls, make sure that they come from an authentic source. Hackers can use Active X to implement viruses and, since Active X communicates with Windows, it can be potentially devastating to a computer. But most Active X controls are useful applications that improve Web viewing, as long as you think before you download.