active X - safety

[Jai Shri]

Hello,

I am not sure if "active x" is safe to install from websites.

I am at the Corel website and want to download the trial version of paint
shop pro, but it demands that I install Corel's "download manager" which is
some kind of "active x". I understand that Corel is a known developer, but
I am concerned about privacy etc. Once I do the download, can I safely
delete the Acive X?

thanks for any help,

JS

 

[paulmd]

Hello,

I am not sure if "active x" is safe to install from websites.

I am at the Corel website and want to download the trial version of paint
shop pro, but it demands that I install Corel's "download manager" which is
some kind of "active x". I understand that Corel is a known developer, but
I am concerned about privacy etc. Once I do the download, can I safely
delete the Acive X?

You should be OK.

 

[Pennywise]

|>Hello,
|>
|>I am not sure if "active x" is safe to install from websites.
|>
|>I am at the Corel website and want to download the trial version of paint
|>shop pro, but it demands that I install Corel's "download manager" which is
|>some kind of "active x". I understand that Corel is a known developer, but
|>I am concerned about privacy etc. Once I do the download, can I safely
|>delete the Acive X?

If I have to actuate ActiveX to access a website; I find somewhere
else to go.

In your case that would be http://www.gimp.org/ Photoshop type
graphics program

 

[Jai Shri]

I'll try to clarify my question:

can I delete or "un-install" whatever "active x"
features the Corel site installs in my computer?

this is not relative to Corel, but relative to any
active x that any site installs in my computer.

thanks.

JS

 

[Pennywise]

|>I'll try to clarify my question:
|>
|>can I delete or "un-install" whatever "active x"
|>features the Corel site installs in my computer?
|>
|>this is not relative to Corel, but relative to any
|>active x that any site installs in my computer.

Since you responded to me I'll clarify, I haven't allowed ActiveX to
run since Win95 when I saw what it could do.

I do go elsewhere, I have no use for a site that uses ActiveX.

I suppose you can do a search for any *.OCX files you receive from
that site and delete them.

 

[paulmd]

|>I'll try to clarify my question:
|>
|>can I delete or "un-install" whatever "active x"
|>features the Corel site installs in my computer?
|>
|>this is not relative to Corel, but relative to any
|>active x that any site installs in my computer.

Relatave to Corel's download manager, this is safe. Relative to other
controlls downloaded via the internet, this is safe. Keep in mind that
windows updates use an activex control, if you delete that control, you
break windows updates. But not permanately, you will be asked to
install it again next time you visit windows update via the internet.
Relative to other things, no. Not a bit.

Here's why: activeX is used by more than just the internet, sometimes
whole libraries of pre-written functions (including activeX controlls)
are sold to program devolpers. These libraries ore often redistributed
with the program. Doing as Penny suggests, and blanket search and
destroy .ocx files is amazingly dangerous, it can break programs you
actually want.

In general, if you know what it is, and you know you don't need it,
it's safe to delete. If you're not sure, it's not.