ActiveX Controls

[Guest]

How can I check wich activeX controls have been installed on my system? I
just went to a site which took control over my mouse and clicked on the
prompt asking me if I want to installed an ActiveX control.

Thanks in advance

 

[Michael Culley]

How can I check wich activeX controls have been installed on my system? I
just went to a site which took control over my mouse and clicked on the
prompt asking me if I want to installed an ActiveX control.

You can go to c:\windows\downloaded program files and see what's there. But
once a site runs an activeX control they pretty much have full control of
your system and could have put files anywhere. So there's no totally
foolproof way of ensuring it is removed except to format your HDD. You could
try running spybot or an antivirus program.

Michael

 

[Malke]

You can go to c:\windows\downloaded program files and see what's
there. But once a site runs an activeX control they pretty much have
full control of your system and could have put files anywhere. So
there's no totally foolproof way of ensuring it is removed except to
format your HDD. You could try running spybot or an antivirus program.

Michael

Formatting and reinstalling is way overkill for this. RG should do the
following troubleshooting:

1) Scan in Safe Mode with current version (not earlier than 2003)
antivirus using updated definitions;

2) remove spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy
(www.safer-networking.org) and Ad-aware (www.lavasoftusa.com). These
programs are free, so use them both since they complement each other.
There is a new version of CWShredder from
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html. I would
not install the other Intermute programs, however. Alternately, there
are CoolWebSearch malware removal steps at
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_cwsremoval.html. A combination of
HijackThis and About:Buster (http://www.majorgeeks.com) works well in
removing homepage hijackers. Always read the instructions before
running a spyware removal tool. Be sure to update these programs before
running, and it is a good idea to do virus/spyware scans in Safe Mode.
Make sure you are able to see all hidden files and extensions (View tab
in Folder Options);

3) If you are running Windows ME or XP, you should disable/enable System
Restore because malware will be in the Restore Points. With ME, you
must disable System Restore completely. With XP, you can delete all but
the most recent (presumably clean) System Restore point from the More
Options section of Disk Cleanup (Run>cleanmgr).

4) make sure you've visited Windows Update and applied all security
patches. Do not install driver updates from Windows Update;

5) run a firewall.

Malke

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your help.

I have looked at this directory. I saw a strange looking download activex
control file with status of damaged.

I have noticed something else. When I reboot the machine and press on start
menu, I get a baloon stating that I had installed a new program. Is there a
way I could trace where the program is coming from. I have couple of more
users I could logon as.

Thanks again

 

[Malke]

Thanks for your help.

I have looked at this directory. I saw a strange looking download
activex
control file with status of damaged.

I have noticed something else. When I reboot the machine and press on
start
menu, I get a baloon stating that I had installed a new program. Is
there a
way I could trace where the program is coming from. I have couple of
more users I could logon as.

Thanks again

Open Task Manager and see what's running. You can add columns if you
need to. Use the System Configuration Utility (msconfig) to see what is
set to start with Windows. If you right-click on the activex control
file you found, you can remove it. I would do so. I would also run all
the malware removal tools I suggested in my first post, including
scanning with an av, all in Safe Mode.

Malke

 

[Al Smith]

How can I check wich activeX controls have been installed on my system? I

just went to a site which took control over my mouse and clicked on the
prompt asking me if I want to installed an ActiveX control.

Thanks in advance

Nobody who wants a secure computer should be running any form of
Active X. It's a cancer. Turn it all off.

 

[Brian]

Nobody who wants a secure computer should be running any form of Active X.
It's a cancer. Turn it all off.

Strange. My bank uses Active X for Internet banking purposes. They must be
confident that it is secure.

Brian

 

[R. McCarty]

C:\Windows\Downloaded Program Files contains the active content
currently loaded.

-or-

Go to Control Panel, Internet Options, Settings and click the "View
Objects" button.