OLEXP: ActiveX Security Warning Message (272578)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0 for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.01 for Windows 98 SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.01 for Windows 98 SP 2
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.01 for Windows 95 SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.01 for Windows 95 SP 2
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 for Windows 2000
This article was previously published under Q272578
For information about the differences between Microsoft Outlook Express and Microsoft Outlook e-mail clients, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

257824 OL2000: Differences Between Outlook and Outlook Express

SYMPTOMS

When you open or use the Preview pane to view certain messages, you may receive the following warning message:
This page provides potentially unsafe information to an ActiveX control. Your current security settings prohibit running controls in this manner. As a result, this page not display correctly.

CAUSE

This message is a security measure to prevent possibly malicious Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) code (hostile ActiveX controls) from sending your browser to a harmful Web site or automatically running code that may damage data on your computer.

RESOLUTION

To avoid this message, change your Security Zone settings. When you change your Security Zone settings, you affect the security in Microsoft Internet Explorer and other programs that use the zone settings. Outlook Express has two Security Zone settings. You can choose either Internet Zone or Restricted Sites. You can change the settings for the different zones to the settings that you want. If you have Outlook Express 4.x installed, follow these steps:
  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  2. On the Security tab, click the zone that you want (Internet or Restricted Sites Zone), and then click Settings.
  3. When you receive the following warning message, click OK:
    You are about to change security settings that may affect the way scripts and other active content can run in Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, and other programs that use Security Zones.
  4. In the Security dialog box, set the zone settings to a lower value. If you select anything below the default setting, you are prompted with the following warning message:
    It is not recommended that you set the security level for this zone below Site Default. Doing so could cause harmful content to be downloaded to your computer. Are you sure you want to change the security level?
    When you receive this warning message, click Yes to change the security level.
If you have a version of Outlook Express later than Outlook Express 5 installed, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Internet Options.
  3. On the Security tab, click the Secure Content section, and then click Zone Settings.
  4. When you receive the following warning message, click OK:
    You are about to change security settings that will affect the way scripts and active content can run in Microsoft Internet Explorer, Outlook, Outlook Express, and any other programs that use security zones.
  5. Click Internet Zone or Restricted Sites, and then drag the slider to a lower setting than what is selected. If you select anything below the default value, you are prompted with the following warning message:
    The recommended level for this zone is Site Default. The security level that you have chosen is lower than this. Are you sure you want to change the security level?
    Click Yes to change the security level.

MORE INFORMATION

Outlook Express uses security zones to provide control over how much access incoming e-mail messages and Web pages have to your computer. These security zones provide advanced protection against certain types of files that may access to your computer and replace or damage files. You can choose a security zone in which to place your incoming e-mail messages based on their source and you can select specific levels of security for each zone.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/16/2004
Keywords:kbprb KB272578
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