Worm question

[waiting]

Is it possible to catch a worm from an e-mail that has NO attachment?

[Xayd]

It is if you're using Outlook, Outlook Express, or other such mail client that will go out and load an embedded web page (including all scripts) without asking you.

Xayd

[waverider]

I have read that one can "turn off active x capability"in outlook express,
and this will prevent these worms from getting into your computer via Email

[waverider]

Does anyone know anything about this.

[waiting]

If this will work. How do we turn off "active X"? If we turn off active
X-----or disable it----how will it effect the computer? What purpose does this "active X" have?"

[Kento]

See my reply here:

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?threadid=13058

[mairving]

In twenty years of computing I have encountered a total of one virus on my machine (actually a work machine). The key is to not open attachments that you don't know about. Another key is to use a hotmail account for a lot of your junk mail. You can also set up filters. When I receive an email from a MSN account (spam central), it goes straight into the trash. On exit the trash is deleted. You can turn off Active X in your browser which also turns it off in Outlook. If someone has to use Active X to make a web page, they are an idiot anyway.

[waiting]

I am using Norton System Works which has Norton AntiVirus Program. We update our virus definations weekly. We also run virus scans....My question is this:
how do we turn Active X off while using an AOL browser? Hopefully somebody will know---------thanks.

[waverider]

What is the purpose of active X ? It must be there for some reason. Will any of you techies please tell us. Thanks in advance

[glc]

Microsoft created ActiveX to compete with Java.

[waverider]

How do we find active X in the computer,and do we need it ? What is it for?

[waiting]

Active X "An umbrella term for Microsoft technologies that enable developers to create interactive content for the World Wide Web. A set of language-independent interoperability technologies that enable software components written in different languages to work together in networked environments. The core technology elements of ActiveX are COM and DCOM."

Does anybody understand this quote? What does it mean in non-tech terms??????

[Xayd]

In a nutshell...

"We tried to steal Java from Sun and the rest of the open software development community, but they sued us and we didn't get away with it like we usually do. Therefore we give you Active X which seeks to do the same things, but is rarely used except on Microsoft web pages and in virus distribution".

There ya go

Xayd

[waiting]

Java from "Sun"? whats Sun?

[waverider]

The question I have is simply this. If I were to disable active X to prevent virus distribution, What computer capabilities would I lose ? Thanks in advance for your answer.

[Xayd]

Sun as in Sun Microsystems, http://www.sun.com .

As I said, you'll very rarely run across any websites with Active X content, since it's browser specific. If you run across a trusted site that does need it, you can always turn it back on.

Personally I surf with Javascript turned off even. I despise popups and often run into them on 'free hosting' sites out there in my searches for various things.

Xayd

[waiting]

How do you disable ActiveX? We're using Windows 98 and aol.

[Xayd]

Tools, Internet Options, Security, Custom level.

I have no idea if these settings transfer over to the integrated AOL browser or not. You'll just have to find a site with Active X content and see.

Xayd

[waiting]

Xayd: thanks....that gives us something to work on......Any other ideas out there?

[waverider]

Thanks XAYD, I tried this and have found little difference in my computers functionality so far, maybe a few odd bits missing on web pages, that is all.I appreciate your simple instructions.

[waiting]

Xayd: Took your advice...I went to programs/OE/tools/options/security. Thanks to you-------my security is now tightened up.