ActiveX Filtering with Internet Explorer 9

Internet Explorer 9 includes a new security feature named ActiveX Filtering.  This component allows global or selective blocking of ActiveX controls.

This option is off by default.  To enable it, click on the Tools icon, Safety, and then ActiveX Filtering.  No configuration text or dialog box will be displayed.  Access the same path and verify that a check mark is present to the left of the menu option.

If a site is accessed that has an ActiveX control that was blocked, the icon that resembles a blue circle with a line through it within the address bar will display the the text of “Some content is filtered on this site” when the cursor is placed on it.

Some web sites will display warnings that the control is question is not available for use.

If you click on the icon that resembles a blue circle with a line through it, a small dialog box will appear which will allow access on the site in question.

The text within the dialog box can be misleading in clicking the button does not turn off ActiveX Filtering globally, but only for the current web site.  If the site is added, the normal notification at the bottom of the screen should appear.

To view the list of sites that have been allowed, click on the Tools icon and then Manage Add-ons.  Right-click on the entry under the Toolbars and Extensions area and click on the More Information option.

The dialog box should display a list of sites that have been added as an exception.  A button is also available to enable the control in question across all sites.  For example, ActiveX Filtering could be enabled but Flash could be allowed for all sites.