Finder window preferences

I've done some searches but haven't come across this question (maybe because it's so simple).
When I open my main finder window after login, and click on applications, the column view is arranged with "Date Modified" selected, and all the apps arranged that way, which is kind of a pain when you want to select an app. How do I get it revert to simply the alphabetical "Name" column as the default?
Obviously I did something to changet that preference (each time I login it even shows an app I recently installed with the folder open and all the contents showing), but I don't know what I did. I've tried setting the folder with my desired prefs, then restarting, but no luck.

I wish I knew what you did too - I would love to have Tiger Finder show column view in other than Name order sometimes ...

Similar Messages

How do I keep my new finder window preference set to open a certain folder on the server?

Since switching to Lion, my new finder window preference keeps resetting itself to default. When I open a new finder window I want it to be a certain folder on our server. This setting was persistent in Snow Leopard. Now I have to keep setting it back, sometimes more than once a day. Please help, its very time consuming to have to click through to get to the folder I use most often every time I open a finder window.
Mac Pro (early 2009)
Processor 2.66 GHz Quad-core Intel Xeon
Memory 8 GB 1066 Mhz DDR3ECC
Graphics ATI Radeon HD 4870 512 MB
Mac OS X Lion 10.7.1 (11B26)

Enabling thirds-party cookies is the default and if there aren't any other changes made then Firefox will show "Remember History"
Choosing the "Use custom settings for history" setting doesn't make any changes.<br />
If Firefox shows the "Use custom settings for history" setting then that is an indication that at least one of the history and cookie settings are not the default to make you aware that changes were If all History settings are default then you see "Firefox will: (Never) Remember History" and the custom settings are hidden.<br />

Finder window preferences are completely broken.

Snow Leopard has been out for quite a while now, however some absolutely glaring bugs with the Finder window preferences still exist.
No matter what you do to set preferences for, no matter what you do with the window controls, no matter what mode you view them in... they are never remembered.
This worked fine in 10.5 and previous... where you could select options like "this folder only" or "copy to existing folders" or "make default view". NONE of this works and saves what you do.
This is very uncharacteristic of Apple and their quality control. It's easy to see as a long-time Mac user that they are slipping in these areas quite a bit.
Apple, is there a fix coming for this?

Oh I do wish you were correct. It almost "just works" but not entirely!
The OSX Finder has never really had the base customisability of the OS9 finder. Ii miss being able to open folders in list view and see the following columns nicely sized to fit, in sequence and resortable to my my preference of the moment. My preferred sequence is label, size, name (flowed to 2 or 3 lines, date modified, comments (likewise flowed to at least 2 lines). Of these being able to move the label and sort to the first columns and have them stuck there and at sized to fit minimum column space would expedite most finder tasks.
The other feature that wasn't in OS9 that I wish for is the ability to instantly assign finder labels inside Finder Save-as dialogues-boxes, I often wonder, "What sort of lazy gimps at Apple left this out?" It is unreal that the forgoing omissions remained omitted for more than a decade of development of OSX. The finder lable alone would save me thousands of mouse clicks per month. I've heard it suggested that Spotlight negates these needs, but frankly it is fairly hopeless as a tool, as once you have used it to find the 3800 files that meet the spotlight searchable criteria, it is well nigh impossible to drill down further , or resort the discovered files, -- and more often than not Spotlight seems to miss the file your looking for even if you enter the correct filename in full, e.g., "Applejuice.jpg" located at the root level of the user/Pictures/ folder. In theory it should turn up all of in the following: basic finder search function; sidebar smart folders and spotlight but… !!*#!. And yes I do know all about the Spotlight preferences (both explicit and hidden). I usually end up relying instead on having a folder structure that is logical and doing a manual "eyeball" search for the required file and duplicates. which is frankly a hassle over the many drives I have in use. The failure of the Finder search functions is worrying as it throws doubts upon the reliability of Time Machine.

How do I reset my finder window preferences.

when i log into my administrator account my finder window keeps opening in "simple" mode. I have tried everything I can think of. I added a test user account with NO finder problems. I tried deleting finder preferences without luck. any ideas?

Weird. The Simple Finder option is part of the parental controls you can enable for regular (non-admin) accounts, but as you probably know, you can't enable it for admin user accounts. If you try you get this:
Unless somehow the checkbox for "Enable parental controls" is currently checked for your admin account & you can clear it by clicking on it, I'm not sure what you should do, aside from maybe creating a new admin account, logging into that, & trying to remove the parental controls from your normal admin account.

Finder window preferences won't work

hi,
i don't seem to get working where the new finder window opens. in Finder Preferences, under General i have selected Documents for the new finder window to open but it still opens in Machintosh HD. i've tried Home and Computer but it doesn't work either, it seems to be stuck to open in Machintosh HD. i've restarted the computer but it still doesn't work. can anyone help? thanks.

A_,
Glad to help again.
Use the checklist in The Repair functions of Disk Utility: what's it all about? by Dr. Smoke.
Download and reinstall both the Mac OS X 10.4.6 for PPC, and the Security Update 2006-003 Mac OS X 10.4.6 Client (PPC).
If that is unsuccessful follow the troubleshooting checklist in Resolving Disk, Permission, and Cache Corruption, by Dr. Smoke.
;~)

Software Update doesn't open a Finder window

I am helping a friend new to the Mac OS learn to use the "download only" option in Software Update. On my Mac, when the download completes, a new Finder window opens and shows the complete path to the update pkg(s). I have my Finder window preference set for column view.
I recommended that my friend use the "download only" option on 4 recent updates.
On her Mac, the downloads arrived, but a Finder window never opened. As a result, she was in a panic because she had no idea where the downloads went.
It has now been verified that they are indeed in /Library/Packages. But she had no way of knowing to look there.
I am trying to win this new user over to the Mac, and told her how Software Update would simply show her where it put the pkg files, but it truly doesn't happen on her machine.
It is the late 2006 Core 2 Duo iMac, 2.0 GHz (Intel), running 10.4.11, with almost all subsequent updates.
She is a "new user" in the sense that a) she is 78 years old and b) her previous PC ran Windows 95. She has had a very rough 2 years to date with Tiger - I receive a "HELP!" e-mail or phone call every 2-3 days. She looks for Mac Help in Mail, looks for Address Book Help in iPhoto, etc.
Excuse the digression. Any ideas why Software Update refuses to show where the downloads are? Any possible fixes? I know this is a small problem, but it's a significant one for my friend.
Thanks

I'm aware of that approach. I personally think its handy to have the update installers all at hand before I do any updates. If an update goes badly, sometimes it can be a good idea to verify the hard drive, repair permissions, and reapply it, at least that's what I've seen recommended many times for problematic updates.
I'm trying to avoid a philosophical discussion, though, of how to do OS X updates (standalone dmg files vs. Software Update, repairing permissions, or not, safe boot, or not etc. etc.) I've seen long, long discussions. I've never used Software Update to do an update on my machine, but that's only my preference. I could be branded a complete Luddite for this.
I was just hoping that someone out there had a quick fix for the "busted" automatic Finder window - that's all I seek. If not, it's not a serious problem, and I'll move on. Just irritating to see it work 100% perfectly on one Mac and not at all on the other.
Thank you for your input.

Can't open Finder windows or Preferences

I can't open Finder windows or Finder Preferences.
When I click on the Finder icon in the dock, use File>New Finder Window, the Go menu, or Finder>Preferences, nothing happens. I even tried opening a folder from Spotlight and "Open in Finder" from a stack but still nothing. I ran a cleaner (Cocktail) but no change. It's like having a virus. (Safari Autocomplete and Facebook login also stopped working about a day before I noticed this).
The only thing problematic that has happened recently was while I was on familyguyx.net, the page loaded without any trigger to one of those pop-ups that repeatedly appears until you reset your browser. Since then I haven't been on that site but these other issues have started.
Any help is really appreciated!

Do you possibly have the Applescript menu or even some text processor in your dock?
If you have the Script menu, open the script editor from that menu and type this into the untitled window:
tell application "Onyx"
activate
end tell
Then run it.
If you don't, open a text editor-if you can-and type the same thing into it. Select all of the text and look for Services>Script Editor>Run As Applescript. That should run the above script and open Onyx. Services is under the Application Name menu.
If those don't work, let me know what you have in your dock, and maybe I can figure out another way.
Jim
Message was edited by: Barney-15E

Can not refresh contents of finder windows

I can not get my finder windows to refresh their contents. My picture folder is the one that really bothers me. When I am trying to upload pictures to the internet, the picture folder is never accurate. I have tried the refresh finder apple script, restarting the computer, opening and closing the window, nothing seems to work.
The content is there, when I search for a specific picture file it is there, but it is not located in the right subfolder. I download and manage my pictures on kodak easyshare.

Hi there,
The content is there, when I search for a specific picture file it is there, but it is not located in the right subfolder.
Hmmm, are you saying something is moving them? Or the Finder isn't opening them to the right folder?
Have you tried this one...
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/10958253
Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at bootup), & use Disk Utility from there to Repair Permissions, reboot once more.
Then Safe Boot from the HD, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions...
Move this file to the desktop...
/Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
reboot when it completes.

Cannot open new finder window after upgrading to Maverick 10.9.2

Hello friends,
I am experiencing a very strange issue.
I cannot access the contents of my files via the finder. I can access my files via open or save as from separate applications.
I have tried the following:
Finder ---> New Finder Window (finder flashes or switches to an existing open application)
Double-clicking on existing folders (finder flashes or switches to an existing open application)
Double-clicking on the icon of my Macintosh HD (finder flashes or switches to an existing open application)
From Dock, click on downloaded document and choose "Open in Finder" (finder flashes or switches to an existing open application)
From iPhoto, select a photo, and select "Reveal in Finder" (nothing happens)
Restart machine has not fixed the issue
After several tries, I get an error displaying that there was an issue with the finder.
I am running Maverick 10.9.2

Unfortunately, Finder is a part of OS level files. So, we have a couple of options.
First off, let's see if there's a software conflict somewhere. Boot into safe mode (boot the comptuer with the shift key held down) and try there. If it works in safe mode, odds are we either have a 3rd party KEXT or application blocking its launch. Check your login items (Apple -> System Preferences -> users & groups -> select your user -> login items), and disable them.
Also check your startup items (you'll have to do this in safe mode as it requires Finder).
/library/startupitems
If Safe Mode/removing startup/login items doesn't work:
First, boot in to the recovery partition (boot the computer with command + r held down). Launch disk utility, and repair both disk permissions and the disk. Reboot and try again.
If that fails, boot into recovery again, and reinstall.

Can't drop files from Downloads or Documents folder on the dock to any other Finder window

I have been downloading some files and dragging/dropping them into another folder for the last 30 minutes or so. They're downloading to the default Downloads folder, and then I've been dragging them from that folder in the Dock, which opens like a fan, and dropping them into another folder (my Documents folder) in an open Finder window.
All of a sudden, I can't drop files from the Downloads fan anywhere else. I also tested, and can't drop files from my Documents folder or my Screenshots folder, two other folders that are on the right side of my dock and open up like a fan.
I can drag them, but when I hover over the folder that I want to drop them into, nothing happens. If I let go, they just stay in their original folder (the Downloads folder).
So basically something happened with the folders on the right side of the dock that's not letting me drop the files anywhere else from the Dock. If I open the folders in their own Finder window, I can drag/drop just fine. It just won't let me do it from the Dock as I had been.
Any ideas? I've tried restarting as well as sleeping/waking as I saw recommended on here, but no luck.

Open Finder, press Option key, select Go > Library, open Preferences, delete com.apple.dock.plist and reboot

Illustrator document thumbnail previews not showing in finder window

I am trying to find a way to view Illustrator document thumbnails (CS,CS2,CS3 and CS4) in Finder windows. Other documents such as .tiffs, jpgs, etc and Word and .pdfs show but not Illustrator.
I used +show view options+ in the Finder, turning on and off show icon, show icon preview and show preview in column. The options seem to affect all other files but not Illustrator. All I get is the application icon but not the document thumbnail. Interestingly, I discovered if I manually delete the .ai extension the documents thumbnail appears, so I tried to turn off the +Show all file extensions+ in the Finder's Preferences. It changed other files but not Illustrator. Does anyone know how to accomplish this on a global basis without manually changing each files extension? It would allow me to the use of Quick Look on these files also. I did speak to Adobe and they thought it was an OS issue.

This is a 'known' issue. Try SneakPeek Pro

Can I stop a Finder window from opening on a mounted volume?

I work in an elementary school. One of the startup items on our kindergarten computers is a shared network applications volume. I have set the Finder preferences to not show connected servers or the hard drive on the desktop. However, when the computer is turned on, even though that shared network applications volume doesn't appear on the desktop, a Finder window opens that shows the contents of that volume. Is there a way of preventing that Finder window from automatically opening? I could use Simple Finder, but there are things I don't like about Simple Finder based on what the kids need to do.
Thanks!

I haven't tested this with AFP, but try launching "/Applications" > "Utilities" > "Terminal.app" and entering these commands:<pre>
defaults write com.apple.finder FXOpenWindowOnMount -bool false
osascript -e 'tell application "Finder" to quit</pre>
Then relaunch the "Finder" by clicking on its "Dock" icon so the changes take effect.
This also assumes the volume is being mounted by the account in question - you mentioned that the window opens after turning the computer on and the shared volume is a startup item, which makes the trigger a bit ambiguous...

Open in same window, when using simple finder window

When I am using finder windows in simplified mode (no sidebar) any folder I open, pops up a new window. Is it possible to have folders open in the same window?
Thanks

noondaywitch wrote:
Thanks for the correction ref. the opt key, Don. However I always have the finder selection unchecked and in icon view it still opens new windows…
Odd. When I check or uncheck that item in Finder Preferences, the resultant behavior is as expected in all folder view modes, including Icon view.

In Yosemite, dropping files in and out of folders on my desktop causes a freeze. Must relaunch the finder window.

After the first few days of operating my new computer, Yosemite began to develop strange glitches. I tried to drag a folder from a Finder window. It zoomed upward on Desktop and stayed where it stopped—and nothing worked. Everything froze. The cursor left a jittery trail of ghost images within a Finder window. We had to relaunch Finder. This became a pattern: no dragging-dropping to move files. Only within a Finder window was it possible.
A day or two later, I began to notice—with increasing seriousness and frequency—open windows stuttering when I tried to move them around the desktop. They moved, but with halts and stutters.
When we opened Activity Monitor and saw 6 BG of 8BG memory used, we figured this is serious. After an EtreCheck we noticed we had to update a version of FlashPlayer, which we did. But our problem is still here. Help!
One probably rare item used with this computer is a Maltron Keyboard. This keyboard is made to be used with Macs and I found no issues relating to Yosemite on their website, but just thought I'd mention it.
EtreCheck version: 2.1.5 (108)
Report generated December 20, 2014 at 10:40:00 AM CST
Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.
Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.
Click the [Adware] links for help removing adware.
Hardware Information: ℹ️
iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014) (Verified)
iMac - model: iMac15,1
1 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 4-core
8 GB RAM Upgradeable
BANK 0/DIMM0
4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok
BANK 1/DIMM0
4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok
BANK 0/DIMM1
empty empty empty empty
BANK 1/DIMM1
empty empty empty empty
Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported
Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Video Information: ℹ️
AMD Radeon R9 M290X - VRAM: 2048 MB
iMac spdisplays_5120x2880Retina
System Software: ℹ️
OS X 10.10 (14A389) - Uptime: 2:25:40
Disk Information: ℹ️
APPLE SSD SM0512F disk0 : (500.28 GB)
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB
Macintosh HD (disk1) / : 499.10 GB (310.00 GB free)
Core Storage: disk0s2 499.42 GB Online
USB Information: ℹ️
PNY Technologies USB 3.0 FD 62.06 GB
USB30FD (disk2s1) /Volumes/USB30FD : 62.06 GB (61.85 GB free)
Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)
MALTRON USB Keyboard
Thunderbolt Information: ℹ️
Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus
Gatekeeper: ℹ️
Anywhere
Launch Daemons: ℹ️
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Support]
User Launch Agents: ℹ️
[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist [Support]
[invalid?] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist [Support]
[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Support]
User Login Items: ℹ️
AirPort Base Station Agent Application (/System/Library/CoreServices/AirPort Base Station Agent.app)
Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 2.2.2.3 [Support]
FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 16.0.0.235 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
Flash Player: Version: 16.0.0.235 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 15.0.0 - SDK 10.10 Check version
Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10
RealPlayer Plugin: Version: Unknown [Support]
Silverlight: Version: 4.1.10329.0 [Support]
iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0
Safari Extensions: ℹ️
AdBlock [Installed]
3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️
APC PowerChute Personal Edition [Support]
Flash Player [Support]
Flip4Mac WMV [Support]
Perian [Support]
Time Machine: ℹ️
Skip System Files: NO
Auto backup: YES
Volumes being backed up:
Macintosh HD: Disk size: 499.10 GB Disk used: 189.10 GB
Destinations:
LaCie [Local]
Total size: 0 B
Total number of backups: 0
Oldest backup: -
Last backup: -
Size of backup disk:
Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️
7% mds
2% WindowServer
1% fontd
0% taskgated
0% Finder
Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️
472 MB firefox
249 MB WindowServer
223 MB soffice
146 MB Finder
146 MB Activity Monitor
Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️
3.78 GB Free RAM
2.55 GB Active RAM
1.34 GB Inactive RAM
923 MB Wired RAM
1.94 GB Page-ins
0 B Page-outs
Diagnostics Information: ℹ️
Dec 20, 2014, 10:35:50 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Install Adobe Flash Player_2014-12-20-103550_[redacted].crash
Dec 20, 2014, 10:28:33 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Install Adobe Flash Player_2014-12-20-102833_[redacted].crash
Dec 20, 2014, 08:14:56 AM Self test - passed

Mac users often ask whether they should install "anti-virus" software. The answer usually given on ASC is "no." The answer is right, but it may give the wrong impression that there is no threat from what are loosely called "viruses." There is a threat, and you need to educate yourself about it.
1. This is a comment on what you should—and should not—do to protect yourself from malicious software ("malware") that circulates on the Internet and gets onto a computer as an unintended consequence of the user's actions. It does not apply to software, such as keystroke loggers, that may be installed deliberately by an intruder who has hands-on access to the computer, or who has been able to take control of it remotely. That threat is in a different category, and there's no easy way to defend against it.
The comment is long because the issue is complex. The key points are in sections 5, 6, and 10.
OS X now implements three layers of built-in protection specifically against malware, not counting runtime protections such as execute disable, sandboxing, system library randomization, and address space layout randomization that may also guard against other kinds of exploits.
2. All versions of OS X since 10.6.7 have been able to detect known Mac malware in downloaded files, and to block insecure web plugins. This feature is transparent to the user. Internally Apple calls it "XProtect."
The malware recognition database used by XProtect is automatically updated; however, you shouldn't rely on it, because the attackers are always at least a day ahead of the defenders.
The following caveats apply to XProtect:
☞ It can be bypassed by some third-party networking software, such as BitTorrent clients and Java applets.
☞ It only applies to software downloaded from the network. Software installed from a CD or other media is not checked.
As new versions of OS X are released, it's not clear whether Apple will indefinitely continue to maintain the XProtect database of older versions such as 10.6. The security of obsolete system versions may eventually be degraded. Security updates to the code of obsolete systems will stop being released at some point, and that may leave them open to other kinds of attack besides malware.
3. Starting with OS X 10.7.5, there has been a second layer of built-in malware protection, designated "Gatekeeper" by Apple. By default, applications and Installer packages downloaded from the network will only run if they're digitally signed by a developer with a certificate issued by Apple. Software certified in this way hasn't necessarily been tested by Apple, but you can be reasonably sure that it hasn't been modified by anyone other than the developer. His identity is known to Apple, so he could be held legally responsible if he distributed malware. That may not mean much if the developer lives in a country with a weak legal system (see below.)
Gatekeeper doesn't depend on a database of known malware. It has, however, the same limitations as XProtect, and in addition the following:
☞ It can easily be disabled or overridden by the user.
☞ A malware attacker could get control of a code-signing certificate under false pretenses, or could simply ignore the consequences of distributing codesigned malware.
☞ An App Store developer could find a way to bypass Apple's oversight, or the oversight could fail due to human error.
Apple has taken far too long to revoke the codesigning certificates of some known abusers, thereby diluting the value of Gatekeeper and the Developer ID program. Those lapses don't involve App Store products, however.
For the reasons given, App Store products, and—to a lesser extent—other applications recognized by Gatekeeper as signed, are safer than others, but they can't be considered absolutely safe. "Sandboxed" applications may prompt for access to private data, such as your contacts, or for access to the network. Think before granting that access. Sandbox security is based on user input. Never click through any request for authorization without thinking.
4. Starting with OS X 10.8.3, a third layer of protection has been added: a "Malware Removal Tool" (MRT). MRT runs automatically in the background when you update the OS. It checks for, and removes, malware that may have evaded the other protections via a Java exploit (see below.) MRT also runs when you install or update the Apple-supplied Java runtime (but not the Oracle runtime.) Like XProtect, MRT is effective against known threats, but not against unknown ones. It notifies you if it finds malware, but otherwise there's no user interface to MRT.
5. The built-in security features of OS X reduce the risk of malware attack, but they are not, and never will be, complete protection. Malware is a problem of human behavior, not machine behavior, and no technological fix alone is going to solve it. Trusting software to protect you will only make you more vulnerable.
The best defense is always going to be your own intelligence. With the possible exception of Java exploits, all known malware circulating on the Internet that affects a fully-updated installation of OS X 10.6 or later takes the form of so-called "Trojan horses," which can only have an effect if the victim is duped into running them. The threat therefore amounts to a battle of wits between you and Internet criminals. If you're better informed than they think you are, you'll win. That means, in practice, that you always stay within a safe harbor of computing practices. How do you know when you're leaving the safe harbor? Below are some warning signs of danger.
Software from an untrustworthy source
☞ Software with a corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash Player, doesn't come directly from the developer’s website. Do not trust an alert from any website to update Flash, or your browser, or any other software. A genuine alert that Flash is outdated and blocked is shown on this support page. Follow the instructions on the support page in that case. Otherwise, assume that the alert is fake and someone is trying to scam you into installing malware. If you see such alerts on more than one website, ask for instructions.
☞ Software of any kind is distributed via BitTorrent, or Usenet, or on a website that also distributes pirated music or movies.
☞ Rogue websites such as Softonic, Soft32, and CNET Download distribute free applications that have been packaged in a superfluous "installer."
☞ The software is advertised by means of spam or intrusive web ads. Any ad, on any site, that includes a direct link to a download should be ignored.
Software that is plainly illegal or does something illegal
☞ High-priced commercial software such as Photoshop is "cracked" or "free."
☞ An application helps you to infringe copyright, for instance by circumventing the copy protection on commercial software, or saving streamed media for reuse without permission. All "YouTube downloaders" are in this category, though not all are necessarily malicious.
Conditional or unsolicited offers from strangers
☞ A telephone caller or a web page tells you that you have a “virus” and offers to help you remove it. (Some reputable websites did legitimately warn visitors who were infected with the "DNSChanger" malware. That exception to this rule no longer applies.)
☞ A web site offers free content such as video or music, but to use it you must install a “codec,” “plug-in,” "player," "downloader," "extractor," or “certificate” that comes from that same site, or an unknown one.
☞ You win a prize in a contest you never entered.
☞ Someone on a message board such as this one is eager to help you, but only if you download an application of his choosing.
☞ A "FREE WI-FI !!!" network advertises itself in a public place such as an airport, but is not provided by the management.
☞ Anything online that you would expect to pay for is "free."
Unexpected events
☞ A file is downloaded automatically when you visit a web page, with no other action on your part. Delete any such file without opening it.
☞ You open what you think is a document and get an alert that it's "an application downloaded from the Internet." Click Cancel and delete the file. Even if you don't get the alert, you should still delete any file that isn't what you expected it to be.
☞ An application does something you don't expect, such as asking for permission to access your contacts, your location, or the Internet for no obvious reason.
☞ Software is attached to email that you didn't request, even if it comes (or seems to come) from someone you trust.
I don't say that leaving the safe harbor just once will necessarily result in disaster, but making a habit of it will weaken your defenses against malware attack. Any of the above scenarios should, at the very least, make you uncomfortable.
6. Java on the Web (not to be confused with JavaScript, to which it's not related, despite the similarity of the names) is a weak point in the security of any system. Java is, among other things, a platform for running complex applications in a web page, on the client. That was always a bad idea, and Java's developers have proven themselves incapable of implementing it without also creating a portal for malware to enter. Past Java exploits are the closest thing there has ever been to a Windows-style virus affecting OS X. Merely loading a page with malicious Java content could be harmful.
Fortunately, client-side Java on the Web is obsolete and mostly extinct. Only a few outmoded sites still use it. Try to hasten the process of extinction by avoiding those sites, if you have a choice. Forget about playing games or other non-essential uses of Java.
Java is not included in OS X 10.7 and later. Discrete Java installers are distributed by Apple and by Oracle (the developer of Java.) Don't use either one unless you need it. Most people don't. If Java is installed, disable it—not JavaScript—in your browsers.
Regardless of version, experience has shown that Java on the Web can't be trusted. If you must use a Java applet for a task on a specific site, enable Java only for that site in Safari. Never enable Java for a public website that carries third-party advertising. Use it only on well-known, login-protected, secure websites without ads. In Safari 6 or later, you'll see a padlock icon in the address bar when visiting a secure site.
Stay within the safe harbor, and you’ll be as safe from malware as you can practically be. The rest of this comment concerns what you should not do to protect yourself.
7. Never install any commercial "anti-virus" (AV) or "Internet security" products for the Mac, as they are all worse than useless. If you need to be able to detect Windows malware in your files, use one of the free security apps in the Mac App Store—nothing else.
Why shouldn't you use commercial AV products?
☞ To recognize malware, the software depends on a database of known threats, which is always at least a day out of date. This technique is a proven failure, as a major AV software vendor has admitted. Most attacks are "zero-day"—that is, previously unknown. Recognition-based AV does not defend against such attacks, and the enterprise IT industry is coming to the realization that traditional AV software is worthless.
☞ Its design is predicated on the nonexistent threat that malware may be injected at any time, anywhere in the file system. Malware is downloaded from the network; it doesn't materialize from nowhere. In order to meet that nonexistent threat, commercial AV software modifies or duplicates low-level functions of the operating system, which is a waste of resources and a common cause of instability, bugs, and poor performance.
☞ By modifying the operating system, the software may also create weaknesses that could be exploited by malware attackers.
☞ Most importantly, a false sense of security is dangerous.
8. An AV product from the App Store, such as "ClamXav," has the same drawback as the commercial suites of being always out of date, but it does not inject low-level code into the operating system. That doesn't mean it's entirely harmless. It may report email messages that have "phishing" links in the body, or Windows malware in attachments, as infected files, and offer to delete or move them. Doing so will corrupt the Mail database. The messages should be deleted from within the Mail application.
An AV app is not needed, and cannot be relied upon, for protection against OS X malware. It's useful, if at all, only for detecting Windows malware, and even for that use it's not really effective, because new Windows malware is emerging much faster than OS X malware.
Windows malware can't harm you directly (unless, of course, you use Windows.) Just don't pass it on to anyone else. A malicious attachment in email is usually easy to recognize by the name alone. An actual example:
London Terror Moovie.avi [124 spaces] Checked By Norton Antivirus.exe
You don't need software to tell you that's a Windows trojan. Software may be able to tell you which trojan it is, but who cares? In practice, there's no reason to use recognition software unless an organizational policy requires it. Windows malware is so widespread that you should assume it's in every email attachment until proven otherwise. Nevertheless, ClamXav or a similar product from the App Store may serve a purpose if it satisfies an ill-informed network administrator who says you must run some kind of AV application. It's free and it won't handicap the system.
The ClamXav developer won't try to "upsell" you to a paid version of the product. Other developers may do that. Don't be upsold. For one thing, you should not pay to protect Windows users from the consequences of their choice of computing platform. For another, a paid upgrade from a free app will probably have all the disadvantages mentioned in section 7.
9. It seems to be a common belief that the built-in Application Firewall acts as a barrier to infection, or prevents malware from functioning. It does neither. It blocks inbound connections to certain network services you're running, such as file sharing. It's disabled by default and you should leave it that way if you're behind a router on a private home or office network. Activate it only when you're on an untrusted network, for instance a public Wi-Fi hotspot, where you don't want to provide services. Disable any services you don't use in the Sharing preference pane. All are disabled by default.
10. As a Mac user, you don't have to live in fear that your computer may be infected every time you install software, read email, or visit a web page. But neither can you assume that you will always be safe from exploitation, no matter what you do. Navigating the Internet is like walking the streets of a big city. It can be as safe or as dangerous as you choose to make it. The greatest harm done by security software is precisely its selling point: it makes people feel safe. They may then feel safe enough to take risks from which the software doesn't protect them. Nothing can lessen the need for safe computing practices.

Open new Finder windows in full screen mode by default

I'd like for new finder windows to open full-screen by default.
I have found that, if I have no finder windows open, opening a new finder window always defaults to a non-full-screen window.
Is there a way to fix this?

System Preferences > General
Uncheck the box beside “Close windows when quitting an application”.

Finder window preferences

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