Activex detection and handling in mozilla-based browsers

Abstract

A system and method is disclosed that allows ActiveX functionality to be conditionally invoked by a non-ActiveX-enabled browser, such as those based on Mozilla technology, through the implementation of user-defined controls to mitigate system security vulnerability. ActiveX controls can be identified from within a Mozilla-based browser and the user can be presented with a choice of actions instead of ActiveX controls being automatically downloaded and activated by a browser extension such as E View. By referencing one or more user-definable lists containing domains, URLs, and ActiveX controls along with their respective attributes the method of the invention allows a user to specify the preferred behavior of a non-IE browser when attempting to render Web pages containing ActiveX controls.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may be better understood, and its numerous objects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference number throughout the several figures designates a like or similar element.

FIG. 1 is a generalized illustration of an information handling system that can be used to implement the method and apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a generalized flow chart illustrating one embodiment of the present invention as implemented to render Web pages containing ActiveX controls using a non-IE browser.

FIG. 3 is a generalized flow chart illustrating one embodiment of the present invention as implemented to manage lists of ActiveX controls, URLs and domains that can be referenced by a non-IE browser when attempting to render Web pages containing ActiveX controls.

Claims

1. A method for managing the display of information on an information handling system, comprising: initiating a first internet browser operable to access an internet URL;using said first internet browser to obtain a set of data parameters associated with said internet URL;analyzing said data parameters to identify predetermined display control parameters associated with said internet URL; andconditionally executing a second internet browser application to display video data associated with said internet URL, based on said analysis of said predetermined display control parameters.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said video data comprises universally unique identifiers (UUIDs) associated with predetermined display control parameters for displaying video data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said predetermined display control parameters comprise ActiveX controls.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said second internet browser application comprises an Internet Explorer View (IEView) application.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising generating a plurality of classification lists of URLs wherein video data associated with URLs on said preference lists is classified for display using said first and second internet browser applications.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of classification lists are generated automatically based on information correlated with said UUIDs.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said plurality of classification lists comprises a list of known good UUIDs wherein said second internet browser application is executed and wherein video data is displayed using IEView and said ActiveX controls.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said plurality of classification lists comprises a user-defined preference list of URLs wherein said second internet browser application is executed and wherein video data is displayed using IE view and said ActiveX controls.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein said plurality of classification lists comprises a user-defined filtered list of URLs, wherein said second internet browser application is not executed and wherein video data is displayed using said first internet browser application.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein said plurality of classification lists comprises a list of known bad applications, wherein said second internet browser application is not executed and wherein video data is displayed using said first internet browser application.

11. An information handling system operable to manage the display of visual information received from an internet web page, comprising: storage media having executable code stored thereon, said executable code comprising first and second to access an internet URL;a processor operable to execute said code, said processor further operable to: use said first internet browser to obtain a set of data parameters associated with said internet URL;analyze said data parameters to identify predetermined display control parameters associated with said internet URL; andconditionally execute said second internet browser application to display video data associated with said internet URL, based on said analysis of said predetermined display control parameters.

12. The information handling system of claim 11, wherein said video data comprises universally unique identifiers (UUIDs) associated with predetermined display control parameters for displaying video data.

13. The information handling system of claim 12, wherein said predetermined display control parameters comprise ActiveX controls.

14. The information handling system of claim 13, wherein said second internet browser application comprises an Internet Explorer View (IEView) application.

15. The information handling system according to claim 14, further comprising generating a plurality of classification lists of URLs wherein video data associated with URLs on said preference lists is classified for display using said first and second internet browser applications.

16. The information handling system according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of classification lists are generated automatically based on information correlated with said UUIDs.

17. The information handling system of claim 15, wherein said plurality of classification lists comprises a list of known good UUIDs wherein said second internet browser application is executed and wherein video data is displayed using IEView and said ActiveX controls.

18. The information handling system of claim 15, wherein said plurality of classification lists comprises a user-defined preference list of URLs wherein said second internet browser application is executed and wherein video data is displayed using IE view and said ActiveX controls.

19. The information handling system of claim 15, wherein said plurality of classification lists comprises a user-defined filtered list of URLs, wherein said second internet browser application is not executed and wherein video data is displayed using said first internet browser application.

20. The information handling system of claim 15, wherein said plurality of classification lists comprises a list of known bad applications, wherein said second internet browser application is not executed and wherein video data is displayed using said first internet browser application.