Why are boxes now appearing around Flash files???

Since yesterday (maybe since a windows update), all flash files on a web page are showing annoying box around the flash file on mouseover.

How on earth do we stop this box from appearing, it's never done this before until yesterday!!!

 

http://www.baekdal.com/articles/Technology/microsoft-ie-activex-update


I had to fix hundreds of ads......

 

Could you provide a screen shot, or link?

 

There's a screenshot of the "problem" on the link I posted. What happens is when someone mouses over a piece of flash they get message "click to activate and use this control". Then they have to click it again for the click to register (i.e. open a new window).

 

Yeah, it causes me problems when I want to look at my webstats, now I have to make dozens of extra clicks to see the detail.

The thing is Microsoft never warned me when I did the updates - there was just a generic "we have identified an issue that allows a remote user to take over your computer" or some such crap...

So which update kb# was it? I want to uninstall it...

Cheers,
Paz.

 

More info: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/912945

 

Yes, that's clearly the one, but I allowed 4 updates on the 16th
one of which was:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=912812 Cumulative security update for Internet Explorer
that contains; Compatibility Patch Available (security update 917425)
The Internet Explorer ActiveX update (update 912945), is contained in this cumulative security update for Windows XP ...

When I tried to uninstall it it told me that two of the other patches will be removed at the same time. I can't help feeling I've been duped...

 

Look on the bright side, at least you it's not effecting your site. I see so many sites out there right now where all the flash has to be clicked on twice to work.

 

This is in part the results of a lawsuit, in which MSFT infringed on patents involving the use of Active-X and plugins. The IE update is forced. This has been discussed in many places on the web, including MS.

I haven't bookmarked any of these since I avoid interactive Flash like the plague, so I can't pass on any links. Sorry.

Of course, whether your IE is updated or not is beside the point. Your visitors will be getting all the little popup messages until you patch your pages.

cheers,

gary

 

lol it happenes to me 2 LoL! that is Microsoft tryin 2 do?

 

OK, I did a little search to find some articles. See:

Sitening Blog

Microsoft Security Response Center Blog

MSDN Library

That should pretty well describe what's going on, why it's going on and how to patch your pages.

cheers,

gary

 

Ahh thats what i dont like IE it messed up my site too. Boohoo windows and its updates

 

For more on the problem and a posted solution by Flash web designer Daren Turner see Notice for all FLASH DESIGNERS and USERS: IE Updates target Active X/swf display.

 

What is everyone's opinion on this new "feature" from microsoft? I think it is absolutely rediculous the way they have it setup. They need to atleast have a "allow sites" dialog for the trusted sites to use this, like myspace for instance. Alot of people will have to do a lot of clicking to see all the flash content on a myspace site.

Sigh...

Why does it seem microsoft is always working backwards from the rest of the world?

 

What a nightmare. When are they going to get rid of this damn "Activate" thing?

 

I doubt that they are. I think for Microsoft it's a case of "damned if you do, damned if you don't.

This is what I posted on another forum about the issue:

I can see that it is going to be a pain for webmasters but I must say that the eWeek article slamming Microsoft for doing this is way off base, in my opinion:

Microsoft has been taking a lot of heat for the fact that Internet Explorer allows Active X controls and this is viewed as a security risk for IE users. That's one of the things you keep hearing over and over again ad nauseum from the Firefox Zealots.

So now we have Microsoft disabling Active X controls unless the user specifically allows it for certain sites. Why is eWeek slamming that move? Hell, they've been slamming Microsoft for NOT doing something like this for months.

It seems a bit hypocritical to me.

See Daren Turner's workaround here.

 

Emphasis added.

This is not a feature or something MSFT wanted to do. It is the result of a patent enfringement lawsuit loss to Eolas. Eolas holds patents on the method IE uses to automatically handle the loading of interactive plugin controls. It will be most obvious with interactive Flash, as it is more ubiquitous. Though Active-X is a really dumb idea, that's not really the issue. It is, rather the method used with plugins and Active-X.

If you use interactive plugins, and you want IE to handle them without the user having to activate them explicitly, you will need to use javascript to load the plugin. That's just a fact of life until MSFT either comes to a licensing agreement with Eolas or patches IE to use another method to load and use plugins. Fortunately, IE uses a pretty stupid security model, too. You will not have to worry about your visitor not having javascript enabled, since disabling javascript also disables Active-X and plugins generally.

You could use a conditional comment to show a box that reads, say, "IE has again prevented you from enjoying a better internet. This site best viewed in damned near any browser other than IE."

But, this is not MSFT's fault, as far as I'm concerned. Patents on software are ethically wrong.

cheers,

gary

 

They won't. You need to implement a workaround on your site if you're having issues.

 

The thing is, we shouldn't be making "workarounds"...

DAMN YOU M$! and your not following standards. :-/

 

*sigh*

How the hell is this about Microsoft not following standards? If you want to complain, complain to Eola and everyone who bitched about Active-X being insecure.