Internet Explorer will block out-of-date ActiveX controls Starting August 12th, Internet Explorer will start blocking out-of-date Java ActiveX controls. Oracle Java, along with Adobe Flash, have been a major vector used to plant malware on Windows systems for quite some time now. These Java or ActiveX controls need to be updated regularly, but are not done by most users, as a result of which malware has crept on to many a Windows machines, infecting them. Malicious or compromised Web sites target security flaws in outdated ActiveX Controls and install malware. In fact, Java exploits represented 84.6% to 98.5% of exploit kit-related detections each month in 2013. Keeping this scenario in mind, Microsoft has taken a good step in deciding to block old and out-dated ActiveX Controls in Internet Explorer 8-11 on Windows 7 / 8 machines. Out-of-date AciveX controls on all Security Zones—such as the Internet Zone will be blocked, and you will see the following message: Java(TM) w