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My Internet browser is not working. It keeps saying, “Internet closed due to data execution prevention.” I follow the onscreen instructions on how to turn it off, but it hasn’t worked. How can I get my Internet browser back?

You have to love computer error messages. The Internet has been closed? And what exactly is “data execution protection” anyway? Let’s dig into this mysterious message and see if we can convince the Internet to remain open for business.

Data Execution Prevention (DEP)

According to Microsoft, Data Execution Prevention is a collection of hardware and software technologies designed to keep malicious code from running by performing additional memory checks. These technologies are described in greater detail in Microsoft’s Knowledge Base article # 875352 and Data Execution Prevention: Frequently Asked Questions.

Data Execution Prevention blocks a certain type of security threats such as virus that try running malicious code. When the code is executed, Data Execution Prevention creates an “exception” and Windows exception handling processes take over, thus preventing the code from running. In other words, when DEP detects malicious code, it closes down the program where the code originates.

What’s Triggering the Data Execution Prevention Error?

Not all software is compatible with Data Execution Prevention errors. However, since Data Execution Prevention has been around since Windows XP, most applications have since added DEP support.

For users who receive DEP errors consistently with a single program (other than your Web browser) and you trust the software, first try updating the program. The software developer may have since updated the software to be compatible with DEP. If that doesn’t work, you can create an exception in your computer’s DEP settings by going to My Computer > Properties > Advanced > Performance > Settings > Data Execution Prevention. Select “Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select” and then enter the programs that you want DEP turned off for.  

Data Execution Prevention and Internet Explorer

Because your message occurs in Internet Explorer, it sounds like a malware is attempting to execute code when you either open Internet Explorer or visit a specific Web page. Many users have reported DEP errors after upgrading to Internet Explorer 8. The first thing to try is an update. Use Windows Update to update your operating system and your Internet Explorer. Microsoft could very well have solved the problem and issued a fix that hasn’t yet been applied to your system.

Run Internet Explorer with No Add-ons

Go into Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools and find Internet Explorer No Add-ons. Click that and Internet Explorer will load with just its bare necessities - no Java, no media players, no Flash, no third party toolbars, or other goodies. Does the message appear? Probably not which would indicate that one of the add-ons is the culprit.

Whether or not you suspect an add-on as the malicious program, you’ll want to update your antivirus/antimalware software and then run a full system scan. There’s obviously something on your computer that is trying to run malicious code. If you do not have a reputable antivirus product such as McAfee, Norton, ParetoLogic, or Trend Micro, invest in one. Look for one with active or real-time protection. More importantly, only go with a reliable product from a reputable developer because there are far too many fake antivirus programs out there. If you need recommendations, view our list of antivirus reviews.

An updated operating system and browser coupled with a complete malware scan should solve the problem. You can turn off DEP in Windows Explorer as a last resort, but let’s not go there. Data Execution Prevention is blocking something and while turning DEP off would stop the messages, the malicious code would run and that’s not good. Plus, in the future, other malware could do the same thing.

I need my computer to stop annoying me and asking me every time whether or not I want ActiveX controls and plug-ins to run. Literally it comes up every second! Please help!

Active X Controls

Yikes, that is annoying! Your browser is a plain Jane program without ActiveX controls and plug-ins. Without these added goodies, you wouldn’t be able to view PDFs, watch videos, listen to music, participate in Web discussions, upload documents, sign into Windows Live, and more. Many come with Windows while others must be installed or added on which is why you may also hear the term “add-ons” when discussing ActiveX controls and plug-ins.

ActiveX Warnings

ActiveX and plug-ins have been exploited in the past which is why Web browsers come with specific security settings to protect against harmful ones. It sounds to me as if your browser’s security settings are set to warn you each time an ActiveX or plug-in needs to perform a certain task, which could be quite often depending on the current Web sites you are using and tasks that you need to perform.

Common ActiveX and Plug-in Settings

I’m not sure which Web browser you’re using, so we’ll work with Internet Explorer 8.0 as an example. The steps are similar for earlier versions. Open Internet Explorer and go to the Tools menu. Choose Internet Options. Click the Internet globe icon to highlight it and then click Custom Level.

Under Settings, scroll to the ActiveX and Plug-ins section. Here you will find the following options which I will number for later explanation:

1. Allow previously unused ActiveX controls to run without prompt
2. Allow scriptlets
3. Automatic prompting for ActiveX controls
4. Binary and script behaviors
5. Display video and animation on a webpage that does not use an external media player
6. Download signed ActiveX controls
7. Download unsigned ActiveX controls
8. Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe for scripting
9. Only allow approved domains to use ActiveX without prompt
10. Run ActiveX controls and Plug-ins
11. Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting

As you can see, there are almost a dozen options for how your computer should handle ActiveX controls and plug-ins. Each of these categories has options along the lines of enable, disable, or prompt. Some, such as #1, #2, #7, and #8, should be disabled. Others such as #6 are generally safe to enable. If in doubt, select “prompt” and make your decision on a case-by-case basis.

Since your computer is warning you constantly, I suspect that #3 (Automatic prompting for ActiveX controls) is set to enable. This means that every time an ActiveX control is called up, you’ll see a little message and a prompt. Try changing this to disable, and the bulk of the messages should go away. I would also make sure that #10 is set to enable rather than prompt.

 I’m currently having issues with Flash Player and Javascript. YouTube won’t play videos unless I have the new Flash Player downloaded and I need to turn on my Javascript. But when I try to download Flash 10 it almost completes but then says it can’t authenticate user and stops. It doesn’t just affect videos. I can’t use the poker app on Facebook or anything that is Flash based. I tried to delete it and download from scratch, but it won’t even delete. What can I do to fix it?

I am going to take you through each of the steps for solving this problem. Complete them one at a time starting with the one at the top. Once you do so, you should be able to view YouTube videos and play Poker on Facebook.

Uninstall Previous Version of Adobe Flash Player

Since you have a partially installed version of Adobe Flash Player 10 on your computer, you need to uninstall it completely before moving on. Since Adobe has customized their Adobe Flash Players in a particular manner, you need to use their uninstaller to remove completed or partially-installed versions of Adobe Flash Player from your computer. Visit this link, Uninstall Adobe, at Adobe’s website in order to access the uninstaller. You’ll have to download it. Be sure that you select the one that you need for your computer’s operating system. Specific directions are provided on that page and you should follow them exactly.

Prepare the Computer for Downloads

The best strategy to take whenever you are going to download a new application is to prep the computer first. Clear out all the excess garbage such as unwanted documents and photos and empty the trash bin. Next, make sure that all other programs are closed when you begin the download and installation of the programs that you want.

Install Adobe Flash Player

Visit Adobe’s website at this link, Adobe Flash Player and install the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Install Java

In order to install Java, you need to visit their website at Java Downloads. Just click on the big, bright blue button that says, “Free Java Download.” Follow the prompts and make sure that you select the right download for your operating system. Next, you need to enable Java on your web browser in order for it to work.

How to Enable Java on Internet Explorer

1)      Open up your Internet Explorer.

2)      Search for “Tools” and click.

3)      Select “Internet Options.”

4)      Select “Advanced.”

5)      Navigate to the option for “Enabling Java” and mark off the box.

6)      Select “OK.”

7)      Restart your computer to enable the settings.

If you aren’t using Internet Explorer for your browser, you’ll find alternate directions at one of Filetonic’s other articles: How to Enable Javascript.

Within the last two weeks when I get something that has to be downloaded; the download time is very long and slow. Any ideas why? Recently a download took over 20 minutes!

There could be a lot of things that can cause slow downloads, so let’s do some troubleshooting.

Slow Internet Speeds

Are you finding that your overall Internet has slowed, or is it just the downloads? If you are finding that the Internet is slow, you can do a few things to try to speed it up. To test your Internet connection speed, you can use a program like the McAfee Internet Connection Speedometer, or go to the Internet icon at the bottom right of your computer and put the mouse over it. This will bring up a screen that will give you Internet information. If you get around 80% of the ISP’s advertised speed, then you are doing pretty well.

Delete Cache and Cookies

Close all of your web browsers. Go to Start and Control Panel. Go to Internet Options and then to the General tab. Click on Delete Cookies. Then choose Delete Files and put a check by Delete all offline content. Click Ok and then Close.

Virus Programs

It’s possible that a virus is causing your slow download speeds - it’s also possible that it is your antivirus program itself that is causing the problem. First, make sure your antivirus program is updated and then run a full scan. If you suspect that it is the antivirus program itself, you can temporarily turn it off then go to a trusted site and try a download. If it is much faster, you will either need to adjust the security settings or try another antivirus program. Norton in particular is known to cause download speed issues.

Registry Problems

It’s possible that something in the registry is causing slowdowns on your system. A program like RegCure will monitor and clean up the system and may result in faster download speeds. There is a free trial, and it isn’t a bad idea to run it in any case.

Internet Problems

To do an in-depth line test, you will need to call your service provider. Once you have them on the phone, the can test the line to make sure that it is nothing on their end.

Accelerator Software

If your Internet is running fine and there are no other problems, you can try a program like Download accelerator plus. These often speed up your downloads so that you can avoid partial downloading of programs and timing out.

Hopefully, one of these solutions will help you out - if you need further assistance, please let us know.

I keep getting these pop-ups saying need Java and/or ActiveX. I can’t play any games at all.

With a lot of online games, you need to have Java and/or ActiveX installed on the computer as well as set up to run (enabled). Fortunately, you can set this up at no cost. Follow the directions offered here in order to do so. Although it isn’t a difficult task, it helps to be able to complete the job without any interruptions. Just make sure you have a bit of quiet time and close out all other applications before you begin.

What is Java?

Java is an application that allows us to do quite a few activities on the computer including playing games and using 3D imagery. Once you have it installed on your computer, you should be able to play your games.

How to Install Java

In order to obtain the installation you need, just visit Java’s website at Java Downloads. You’ll see a bright blue button in the center of the page labeled “Free Java Download.” Click on it and another page will be generated offering Java downloads. Read through the list to ensure that you are at the proper download page for your operating system. This particular page is for Windows. If it isn’t the correct operating system, then you can click the link directly below the blue button. Just follow the installation instructions and soon you will have installed Java onto your machine. Remember that once you download this application, you also need to enable it to run, so follow the next set or instructions.

How to Enable Java on Internet Explorer

1. Open up Internet Explorer.
2. Look for the section labeled “Tools” and click to open.
3. Select “Internet Options” from the choices.
4. Select “Advanced.”
5. Navigate to the option for enabling Java and mark off the box.
6. Select “OK.”
7. Restart the computer to enable the settings to apply.

If you are using a browser other than Internet Explorer, you can find alternate directions at one of our other articles: How to Enable Javascript.

How to Enable Active Scripting, ActiveX, and Java in Internet Explorer

1. Open up your browser, “Internet Explorer.”
2. Select the option for “Tools” from the menu.
3. Select “Internet Options”.
4. Select the option for “Security.” The option for “Internet Zone” should be selected.
5. Select “Default Level.”
6. Select “OK.”

I keep getting a message along the lines of “Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to shut down.” It then restarts and returns to the home page. This can happen at different frequencies.

Troubleshooting Internet Explorer Has Encountered an Error: Scanning for Malware

With this type of problem, one of the first strategies that I suggest is to run a virus and spyware scan. Quite often spyware and viruses infect a computer and can lead to problems such as Internet Explorer cannot display the page. The best strategy here is to run an anti-virus/anti-spyware application to remove the problem if it exists. Once this occurs, Internet Explorer usually goes back to its normal working order. If you have such an application, check to see if any updates exist and run it now. If you don’t have such an application, you can try Anti-VirusPLUS, which is a reliable anti-virus/anti-spyware program.

Troubleshooting Internet Explorer Has Encountered an Error: Updates

It is possible that you need to obtain the latest update for Internet Explorer. If you haven’t updated in a while, this becomes even more possible. The latest version is currently IE8. If you already have this version, use the next set of directions to repair it. If you don’t have this version, try uploading it now and see if that helps any.

Troubleshooting Internet Explorer Has Encountered an Error: Repair IE

Quite often, computer users can resolve Internet Explorer errors simply by resetting it. Take these steps to repair your Internet Explorer:

1)      Open your Internet Explorer application.

2)      Immediately select the option for “Tools.”

3)      Select “Internet Options.”

4)      Select the section for “Restore Advanced Settings.”

5)      Select “Reset.” If you are lucky, this strategy worked.

Troubleshooting Internet Explorer Has Encountered an Error: IE Reporting Tool

Typically a small dialog box appears that offers you the chance to report the IE error. Many people don’t realize the value of this option. If you select this option to “Send Error Report,” the “Internet Explorer Error Reporting Tool” will first check to see if the problem has been resolved. If it has been resolved, this tool will direct you to the appropriate webpage to fix the problem. Typically, this involves downloading a patch or workaround for that particular problem.

Troubleshooting Internet Explorer Has Encountered an Error: “System Restore”

Another workaround that might work for you is to complete a “System Restore” to place your computer back to a time when IE was working properly. This strategy might or might not work for you.

Troubleshooting Internet Explorer Has Encountered an Error: Add-ons

This strategy is usually one that works if you have recently included any add-ons for your Internet Explorer browser. Try running it without the add-ons and see if the problem continues. Go to Start> Programs> Accessories > System Tools> Internet Explorer with No Add-ons. If it works properly, then you can experiment with each add-on one at a time until you discover which one is creating the problem for you. Do this by going into the regular Internet Explorer and clicking Tools > Manage Add-ons. You could also try uninstalling the latest add-on to see if that makes a difference for you.