ActiveX: Difference between revisions

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[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ActiveX ActiveX] is the system Internet Explorer uses in place of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NPAPI NPAPI] system that all other browsers use, to embed other applications inside themselves. While both systems have similar functionality, NPAPI plug-ins are just for browser use and ActiveX Controls can be used to embed many other Windows applications in each other. In addition, NPAPI plug-ins were designed for cross-platform use and ActiveX is restricted to Windows.
'''''The Mozilla ActiveX plugin is obsolete and can cause crashes or other problems in Firefox and SeaMonkey.  It was added to the [https://addons.mozilla.org/blocked/ Mozilla Blocklist] on June 7, 2012.''''' [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=695927]


While Internet Explorer will use ActiveX to render all embedded content, content that explicitly specifies the use of an ActiveX plugin will not render in a browser without ActiveX support. For this reason, a third-party plugin that adds partial ActiveX support to some Mozilla-based browsers has been created.


'''Warning''' - If you have the Adblock extension with the OBJ-TABS setting enabled, the ActiveX plug-in will ignore its configuration and run any installed ActiveX control - this is a security risk. [[problematic extensions|1]] [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=206213 2]
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ActiveX ActiveX] is the system Internet Explorer uses in place of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NPAPI NPAPI] system that all other browsers use to embed other applications inside themselves. Some sites explicitly specify the use of an ActiveX control (generally, for [[Windows Media Player]]) and will not render in a browser without ActiveX support. For this reason, a third-party [http://www.iol.ie/~locka/mozilla/plugin.htm ActiveX plugin] that adds partial ActiveX support to some Mozilla-based browsers has been created.


==Security==
==Installing the ActiveX plugin on Windows==
'''An ActiveX plugin version for Firefox 2 and above is not currently available.  You should not install a different version and you should remove the ActiveX plugin if the wrong version is already installed.'''


It is generally believed that ActiveX is inherently insecure compared to the NPAPI plug-in system, but this is only partially true. ActiveX controls and plug-ins have all the same powers over the computer as each other, so a malicious plug-in can do just as much damage as an ActiveX control. But by the way ActiveX is implemented in Internet Explorer (and its use in many other Microsoft applications), it is easier to get a malicious ActiveX Control onto a user's computer and to get it to run. A detailed explanation can be found here: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NPAPI#NPAPI_vs_ActiveX_controls]
* Install the correct version of the Mozilla ActiveX plugin from [http://www.iol.ie/~locka/mozilla/plugin.htm#download here]. 
**''Firefox 1.5.0.x'': Install the plug-in for Firefox 1.5.
**''All other Firefox releases'': Install the plug-in for your specific version of Firefox.
**''Seamonkey 1.0'': Install the plug-in for Firefox 1.5.[http://plugindoc.mozdev.org/windows-all.html#ActiveX].
* Restart the browser.
===Warnings===
* If you use the [https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/10/ Adblock] extension, you may need to disable the Obj-Tabs setting, depending on your browser version. Otherwise, the ActiveX plugin will run almost any ActiveX control regardless of how it is configured. This issue is fixed in current Mozilla browsers (see [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=340852 bug 340852] for details).
* For some versions of the ActiveX plugin, the [[Flash]] plugin will not load unless it was already loaded after you install the ActiveX plugin. You will need to reload the plugins by typing '''about:plugins''' into your Location Bar upon starting Firefox.
* If you later update your browser, the ActiveX plugin will likely remain installed and it may not be compatible with the new browser version. You should uninstall the ActiveX plugin before upgrading your browser or remove it if it is already installed, unless it is known to work with the next version.


==Microsoft Windows==
==Uninstalling the ActiveX plugin on Windows==
 
* Close all instances of your browser.
Mozilla does not support ActiveX controls natively. However, a [[:Category:Plugins|plugin]] for ActiveX controls support is [http://www.iol.ie/~locka/mozilla/plugin.htm#download available]. In its default security configuration (as specified in the file <tt>activex.js</tt>, located in the <tt>defaults\pref</tt> subfolder of the browser's [[installation directory]]), it will not download or install controls itself, and it will only host controls that are already installed into Windows and marked safe for scripting. For the Firefox versions, the plug-ins default security configuration is to only host the two Windows Media player controls. Information on the use of the plug-in for Windows Media can be found here: [[Windows Media Player#ActiveX plugin |  Windows Media Player - ActiveX plugin]].
* Go to the [[installation directory]] (e.g., ''C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox'').
 
* Go into the "plugins" folder and delete the file "npmozax.dll".
You must ensure that, if you intend to install the ActiveX plugin, you get the correct version for your version of Mozilla Suite/Firefox. Each version of the plug-in is only compatible with a small range of Mozilla Suite/Firefox versions. If you have the wrong version of ActiveX, it has been known to disable/interfere with Flash content, and there is no guarantee that the plug-in will obey its security configuration.
* Go back to the installation directory, and then go into the "components" folder, and delete the files "nsIMozAxPlugin.xpt" and "nsAxSecurityPolicy.js".
 
* Go back to the installation directoryopen the "defaults" folder, then open the "pref" folder and delete the file "activex.js".
To avoid compatibility issues, you should also [[Windows_Media_Player#Uninstalling_ActiveX_plugin |uninstall the ActiveX plugin]] or, at the minimum, remove the plugin file "npmozax.dll" from the browser's [[installation directory]]<tt>\plugins</tt> folder when upgrading your browser to a newer version.


==Linux (x86)==
==Linux (x86)==
Recent versions of [http://www.codeweavers.com/products/cxoffice/ CrossOver Office] ship with the Mozilla ActiveX plugin, but don't expect it to work as well as it would on Windows.
Recent versions of [http://www.codeweavers.com/products/cxoffice/ CrossOver Office] ship with the Mozilla ActiveX plugin, but don't expect it to work as well as it would on Windows.


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Video_or_audio_does_not_play#Add-on_solutions|Video or audio does not play - Add-on solutions]]
* [[Issues_related_to_plugins#Problematic_plugins|Issues related to plugins - Problematic plugins]]
* [[Flash#ActiveX_plugin_conflict|Flash - ActiveX plugin conflict]]
==External links==
*[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=695927 Bug 695927 - Plugin block request: npmozax.dll]


*[[Windows Media Player#ActiveX plugin |  Windows Media Player - ActiveX plugin]] 


[[Category:Plugins]]
[[Category:Plugins]]

Latest revision as of 03:35, 8 June 2012

The Mozilla ActiveX plugin is obsolete and can cause crashes or other problems in Firefox and SeaMonkey. It was added to the Mozilla Blocklist on June 7, 2012. [1]


ActiveX is the system Internet Explorer uses in place of the NPAPI system that all other browsers use to embed other applications inside themselves. Some sites explicitly specify the use of an ActiveX control (generally, for Windows Media Player) and will not render in a browser without ActiveX support. For this reason, a third-party ActiveX plugin that adds partial ActiveX support to some Mozilla-based browsers has been created.

Installing the ActiveX plugin on Windows

An ActiveX plugin version for Firefox 2 and above is not currently available. You should not install a different version and you should remove the ActiveX plugin if the wrong version is already installed.

  • Install the correct version of the Mozilla ActiveX plugin from here.
    • Firefox 1.5.0.x: Install the plug-in for Firefox 1.5.
    • All other Firefox releases: Install the plug-in for your specific version of Firefox.
    • Seamonkey 1.0: Install the plug-in for Firefox 1.5.[2].
  • Restart the browser.

Warnings

  • If you use the Adblock extension, you may need to disable the Obj-Tabs setting, depending on your browser version. Otherwise, the ActiveX plugin will run almost any ActiveX control regardless of how it is configured. This issue is fixed in current Mozilla browsers (see bug 340852 for details).
  • For some versions of the ActiveX plugin, the Flash plugin will not load unless it was already loaded after you install the ActiveX plugin. You will need to reload the plugins by typing about:plugins into your Location Bar upon starting Firefox.
  • If you later update your browser, the ActiveX plugin will likely remain installed and it may not be compatible with the new browser version. You should uninstall the ActiveX plugin before upgrading your browser or remove it if it is already installed, unless it is known to work with the next version.

Uninstalling the ActiveX plugin on Windows

  • Close all instances of your browser.
  • Go to the installation directory (e.g., C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox).
  • Go into the "plugins" folder and delete the file "npmozax.dll".
  • Go back to the installation directory, and then go into the "components" folder, and delete the files "nsIMozAxPlugin.xpt" and "nsAxSecurityPolicy.js".
  • Go back to the installation directory, open the "defaults" folder, then open the "pref" folder and delete the file "activex.js".

Linux (x86)

Recent versions of CrossOver Office ship with the Mozilla ActiveX plugin, but don't expect it to work as well as it would on Windows.

See also

External links