In the late 1990s and early 2000s, web browsers were far less capable than they are today. Modern browsers use standardized technologies like HTML5 and JavaScript to handle video, audio, and complex interactions. Back then, if a website wanted to do something complex—like stream a live video feed from a security camera, run a sophisticated Java applet, or control a hardware device—it needed help.

It is highly likely that the file ie-plugins.exe or the prompt “Please install IE ActiveX” is associated with (often created between 1998–2010) that was designed exclusively for Internet Explorer (IE) on Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7.

ActiveX is a proprietary Microsoft framework that allowed websites to install software directly onto a user’s computer. Unlike modern browser plugins (like JavaScript or WebAssembly), ActiveX controls have full system access.