On Tue, 27 Nov 2001 18:34:00 GMT, Patrick Gallagher <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >ActiveX is the problem - and actually, there are a lot more Netscape >style plugins on the internet than ActiveX.
I'm not sure about this. Now that unfortunately IE doesn't support plugins anymore and given current market conditions, I think most serious plugin developers will develop ActiveX controls, use one of the commonly installed plugins like Flash instead, or move away from any kind of plugin/ActiveX content. I'm sure that there are more ActiveX controls than Netscape plugins, I don't know that they are all available for free download on the internet if that's what you mean. >The main problem is the ActiveX architecture allows the applets too much >access to your system - for instance, there was one applet that ejected >your CD-ROM, popped up a message saying something along the lines of >"here's your coffee holder" and shut down your computer. Netscape >plugins were limited to browser functionality, they were never given >root access to your computer's resources - same with Java. That being >said, ActiveX could do some really cool things, and having the >functionality locally is a good thing, but allowing it on the internet >and access to it through a web browser was a really, really dumb thing >to do. I could write a Netscape plugin that ejected your CD-ROM, popped up a message, and shutdown your computer. If I could convince you to install it, it would work just fine. Netscape plugins are and never have been limited to "browser functionality". Plugins are NOT the same as Java. I don't think it was a dumb thing to do. But you have to trust the ActiveX/plugin completely, IT can do all that YOU can do on your computer. This makes them unacceptable for many jobs that they are better able to do than a web browser is alone. I would not trust many internationally known companies to install plugins on my computer (like my bank). Before I install a plugin I need to deicde if I trust the provider to have access to my system and if it provides a service I want. Novice or expert user, it's a matter of trust. Security wise Java is much nicer especially in recent versions because it is almost as powerful as native code while it has a built in security system with fine grained permissions. I can grant Java applets the ability to access files in a certain directory only. Chris Hill [EMAIL PROTECTED]
