activeX control "malicious"?

[Dave]

I downloaded this webcam activeX control, and I have been using it

later, while searching for more controls I found this page which has a "possible malicious software" warning regarding the control:

http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Programming/ActiveX/Free_VideoCapture_ActiveX_Control_Download.html

does anyone know what could be "malicious" about this OCX?



Nothing has set off my virus protection etc.

The website of the author is http://viscomsoft.com/


the control works well, though it does not have many features, it is simple to use...

and yeah, I know just randomly downloading stuff is not the best practice, but MMF's activeX object is just so cool. there is a ton of stuff available to play with


Thanx
Dave

[Dave]

this is the address of the actual download

http://www.viscomsoft.com/videocapfree.htm

[LIJI]

Never trust ActiveXes you find randomly on the internet.

[James]

The control is fine- you get that warning because it is an OCX file, and an OCX file contains executable code which could be malicious.

[LIJI]

It doesn't look like an automatic report, it looks like some user(s?) submitted that report.
Also the name of the control starts with "Free".
A research by McAfee shows that when Googling the terms "Free Screensaver"/"Free Games"/"Free Stuff" or anything similar 70% of the results have virus/spyware/other malware downloads.

[Dave]

Thanks for the feedback, I am just playing with some video camera stuff prepping for an upcoming project

there is no webcam extension in mmf as far as I can find



I had never really played with the aX extension before lately but it gives access to other controls unavailable in mmf

[LIJI]

Please keep in mind that everyone using your software will have to have the ActiveX you're using or the program will refuse to run.
That what makes using ActiveXes risky.