Integrator Web Browser / ActiveX Usage Statistics

By Sean Patton, Published Mar 01, 2018, 09:38am EST

Web browsers are commonly needed to configure IP cameras and other physical security components. So security integrators do not just use them for 'browsing the web'.

For overall Internet users, Google Chrome is most commonly used, with IE very low (e.g., stats 1, stats 2). Would security integrators concur? And how much of an issue / impact would ActiveX / plug-ins, still used by some large manufacturers, have in integrator web browser usage?

In this note, we look at the statistics from 150+ integrator responses and the most common problems integrators had using web browsers.

Overall ********** - ****** **** *******

******'* ****** *** *** most ******* *******, ********* by ****** ** *** respondents ******** ** ******** ******** and *******. 

*******, ** *** *** integrators *** ********** ****** than *** ******** ** a *****.

Chrome **** ******* ***....

****** *** *** *** away *** **** ******* but *** *** ***** problem - ***** ************ systems **** ******* *******:

  • "********* * *** ******, but ** ****** ** use ***************** (****) **** configuring **** ******* ** DVRs."
  • "* *** ****** ****** but ** *** ** to **** *******, *** cheap ******* **** ** come ****** **** *** existing, ** *** ******** Explorer ******* ** ** the **** *** **** works "
  • "******. ***** **** ** handy *** ****** *********."
  • "****** **********. ************ ** have ** *** ** due ** *******, ***."
  • "*** **** * *** Chrome. *** ********* **** i *** ** ******* they *** *** ****** the ***** *** *** ActiveX *******."
  • "******** **** ** ** chrome *** *** ***** installation ** ***********, ** is ******** ********. *** the ******* ** ****** works **** **** ** but *** *** ***** with ******."
  • "****** ****** ****** *********** requires **."
  • "****** ******* ** *** less *** *** *** ups, *** ********* ** have ** *** ** for ******* *************"
  • "****** * **** *** IE ** * **** to *** ** **** in *************"

IE *** ******* / *******

*** ** *** *** only ****** *****, **** integrators ********** / ****** out ****** **** ******* plugins *** ***** ************:

  • "**** **** ******* ******* would *** ***-****** ***** or ***** ***** ********** (like **** *** ***** higher ******* ********) ***** still **** ** *** Internet ******** *** *** plugins ***."
  • "**** ******* ** ******* sometimes ****** ** *** IE"
  • "******** ********, ** *** ActiveX ********"
  • "****** ** *** ******** explorer *** *********** *******. Firefox *** ********** ****"
  • "****** *** ****** ***, Edge *** ************* **** ActiveX *** ** **** cameras."
  • "******** ********. ******* *******."
  • "*******/****** *** ******** ***; IE *** ********* ******* and ****, ******* ****'* what **** ** **** support."
  • "******** ******** *** *** compatibility **** ******* ******"
  • "** *** *** *** NVR, ****** *** ******* web *****, ******** ** ActiveX *******."
  • "* ****** ******* *** browsing *** **** ******** seems ** ** ******* with ********* *** ********* cameras."
  • "**, ****, ****** ** that *****. ***** ******* requires ** *** *** performance."
  • "** ** ****** ***'* support ***/*** *******. (*** for *** *****)"
  • "*** *******, * ************* use ******** ******** ******, since ********** ***** ** work ** ** (**********). Used ** *** ****** before ********** ******* ******* a *** ***** ****"
  • "******** ******** *** ******** old ******* ** **** that ******* *******. "
  • "*** *** ****** ***-** I *** ******** ******** because ** **** ** more **** ** ******* "
  • "** **** *** ** (or ****) **** ***** is ** ********** ******** plug-in"

Edge *** ****

******* ********* ******** ******** as *** ******* *** browser *** ******* ** in ****, *** ******** rate ** ******** *********** is ****** **** ** worldwide ******** (*.*% ** 4.7%). **** ** **** is *** ** ******* plugins ***** **** ** some ******** ************* *** their *** **********, ***** is *** ********* ** Edge. **** *** ******** in ** ***** ***** used ** ******** *********** at * **** ****** rate **** ******* (**% vs **%).

Security ******** **** ******* *** **** **** * ******

******* *** **** **** to ** * ********* threat ** ******* *** application ******** ***** **** well **** * ******. The *.* ******** ********* Readiness **** (**** ** The ********** ** ******** Security) *** **** ************ disabling ****** ********* ** Internet ******** (*** ***** browsers) ***** **** ** at *********(**** ** *** ******** back **** **** ****** on *** *******).

* ***** ****** ** links **** ******* ***** to **** ******* ** many ***** ** *******:

Only ***** ********** ***** ******* / ******* ** ************ **

***** ******** ** ****** support ***** ******* / Active *, ** *** list ***** *****:

  • ******: ************ ****
  • *******: ************ ****
  • ****: ***** *********
  • ******: ***** *********

*** **** ******* ********* is ******** ******** *** even *** **** ****** version ********** ******** *** **** discontinued *** * *****. ***** ***** **********, Microsoft ********** *** ******** encouraging ****** ** ****, which **** *** ****** such *******.

***** *** * *** open ****** ******** ********* that ** ********** ******* 64-bit NPAPI ******* (*** *** mentioned ** *** ******):

  • ********
  • **** ****
  • ***********

Camera ************ ****** 

*** ********* *****, * general ********** ***** *** manufacturers:

  • *****, ** ****** *.***/*.*** in *******: ****, ****** (in ****** ******** ********)
  • ***** ***** ****, ** plugin ********: ****, *******, ********, Sony, *******
  • ******* ********: *********, *****, Geovision, **** ** *** smaller *************, ***.

Poll / ****

Comments (15)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

03/01/18 05:01pm

We've been recently seeing IT restrictions on ActiveX Plugins at a few different large end users.  Axis made it easy for us to get around this and secure those bids.  I didn't know Hanwha was in that field now, I'll have to re-evaluate their cameras at ISC West.  Thanks for the information.

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #4

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 03/02/18 01:53am

Hanwha cameras now support plugin-free mode or HTML5 UI on Wisenet X, P, Q series, & in Wisenet III & Wisenet Lite with latest firmware update.

No longer do you get the dreaded "Please install plugin" message or loop, or fighting with IT security settings.

The number of support calls that I used to take daily at a previous employer just trying to get the plugin to install/display video....  What a pain it was...

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Undisclosed #5

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 03/04/18 10:05pm

Hanwha introduced it first with the Q-Series. Axis was over a year behind.

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Undisclosed Distributor #2

03/01/18 08:24pm

I applaud the story showing the problem with these manufacturers using outdated ActiveX technology but find the title to be a little misleading.

What I expected when I first read the story was a breakdown of what browsers are being used specifically to access security equipment (DVR/NVR/IP cameras), not for all purposes.  I think if you were to do another poll showing what browsers are used just to access security equipment then you'll find that the overwhelming majority is Internet Explorer and ActiveX since that is what is required by almost every piece of equipment coming from the chinese manufacturers.

 

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Sean Patton

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #2 | 03/01/18 08:35pm

So the exact question to the integrators was "What web browser do you typically use? Why?"

So we were attempting to capture not only what they might be using for camera/DVR applications, but what they do for everyday use as well (web browsing, business office applications, etc). We also did attempt to reflect results of IE users that did reflect what you point out about what is required for a lot of the connections.

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

03/01/18 09:52pm

I thought the question asked if ActiveX was important and thus voted "Not very". Rereading the question, it actually ask how important is it to NOT require ActiveX. Please change my vote from Not Very, to Very.

On another note, who in the world still requires ActiveX?? Why?

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Undisclosed Distributor #2

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 03/01/18 10:07pm

ActiveX is still required by almost every chinese manufacturer because they are still developing with outdated tools such as Microsoft Visual Studio 2010.  Most will not update because they will not invest in newer development tools, most of what they have is pirated copies anyway.  The biggest reason is because no one is requiring it, they say no to any request for it and everyone in the rest of the world just accepts it as fact because you cannot find non-ActiveX items at the bargain basement price that these are at.  I have personally requested non-ActiveX interfaces from manufacturers since 2009 when it was already a few years out of date and have tried to guide them to Java at first, then on to HTML5 but there has never been ANY acceptance of these recommendations.

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Paul Shah

In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #2 | 03/01/18 10:51pm

They also say that mobile apps are  more popular than the browser anyway so it's not wort investing the time to get rid of the Active X 

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #2 | 03/01/18 11:31pm

Interesting. I thought ActiveX had died long ago. I find it difficult to understand why a customer would find this acceptable.

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Undisclosed #5

In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #2 | 03/04/18 10:08pm

Wasn't bootlegged development tools the way Hiks mobile ios app got hacked?

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #6

03/07/18 02:47am

Interesting and informative story...

To my knowledge, Hanwha supports plug-in free web browing not only for H.264 stream but for H.265, whereas Axis does only for H.264. Is my understanding incorrect?

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #6 | 03/07/18 05:34pm

That is true, but it only impacts a few models for Axis, since their H.265 support is very limited. Axis also only has a few H.265 cameras, the M3106-LV/E Mk II models and the M2026-LE Mk II. We will ask Axis about their H.265 browser support and I'll post back.

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #7

03/07/18 06:36pm



Web RTC adoption is the immediate solution for native video decoding.

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Paul Shah

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #7 | 03/07/18 08:14pm

Does this replace the need for Active X  plug in? 

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #7

In reply to Paul Shah | 03/07/18 09:23pm

Yes, completely.

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