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Disabling IE Scripting in a Useful Manner?

Posted by Cliff on from the better-security-controls dept.

hwyguy2 asks: "Do any Slashdot readers have any insight or pointers on how companies deal with ActiveX in the IE browser? At the company I'm with, they have taken a conservative approach, and have the browser configured to only allow ActiveX to internal corporate servers and disallow it anywhere else. Of course, locking that down also locks things like javascript, which the company choses to prompt. This creates many practical problems and user frustrations. It also makes it a pain for programs that use ActiveX innocously (such as HoTMetal, which seems to like to use an Active X control to get an open file dialog box). Given the number of sites out there that now only work with IE (boo!), this tight configuration is getting harder and harder to support. Are there any good ways to address the ActiveX concerns (maybe filtering servers to block ActiveX or other mobile code concerns)?"

3 of 31 comments (clear)

  1. Pick One by baldass_newbie · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Security
    Functionality

    Guess which side of the fence ActiveX is on.
    There isn't an easy answer that isn't going to be flippant.

    --
    The opposite of progress is congress
  2. Proxomitron by jafuser · · Score: 5, Informative
    If you have the ability to install software on your computer, intall Proxomitron. It will let you filter out the activex stuff, so at least you won't get the annoying "This page may not be displayed correctly" prompt every time you get to an activex page that won't work due to your firewall.

    BTW, Proxomitron basically lets you apply regex-like filtering and search/replace to your incoming HTML, so it's useful for a *lot* of stuff.

    Google Search for Proxomitron

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    Please consider making an automatic monthly recurring donation to the EFF
  3. Controlled ActiveX is possible by kawika · · Score: 5, Informative

    You can control the places where IE looks for ActiveX controls. The magic registry key is

    HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Int ernet Settings\CodeBaseSearchPath

    By default you will see CODEBASE in the registry value. That means if there is a CODEBASE parameter in the OBJECT tag on the web page, IE will use it if the correct control version is not installed. However, you can also remove CODEBASE from the string and set this path to a location on your own network, where you place only the small set of trusted ActiveX controls you want your company to use. No other controls will be loaded.