ActiveX

A Web technology developed by Microsoft that enables portable, reusable software components -COM (Component Object Model) objects called ActiveX controls make it possible for a browser to interact with desktop applications, typically to provide additional user interface functions. ActiveX is commonly used by Web designers to embed multimedia files in Web pages. Spyware is frequently downloaded through an ActiveX control.

While ActiveX is primarily used on the Web, it can also be used with desktop applications and other programs. ActiveX is bundled within Microsoft's Internet Explorer Browser.