These patch are usually free, and small to download. Another advice is to never use Beta programs. There's an interesting web page , with all sorts of hostile applets. ActiveX ActiveX controls are software components that can run inside other applications. The ActiveX controls can perform much more than Java applets.
Malicious applets can introduce a viros or harm a PC or a network.
Microsoft are aware of the serious security breach in ActiveX, and their startegy is to require code-signing. All controls must be certified by a 3rd party tester. But that is not enough. The technology only attach the author name to the control. It does not scan for viruses or other security breaches.