Malware - Safari users - disable Open"safe" files after downloading

For those not aware there's some malware floating around which goes by the name of MacDefender and other variants.
It's a scam that may show a page suggesting 'virus' infection on the user's machine and/or download an installer file.
Visiting malicious sites or apparently just browsing some Google Images searches will automatically download a zipped file. If the Safari Preference to Open "safe" files after downloading is checked it will unzip and run the installer for the malware.
While installing requires user intervention to click through the installation, the most recent variant will apparently install for a user without needing an administrator password.
Once installed the malware apparently opens unsavoury websites randomly and prompts for credit card details to remove them.
This is unpleasant scareware to steal your credit card info.
Beware.
AC

just for information (in case you haven't seen these yet):
Mac OS X 10.6 Help: What is malware?
How to avoid or remove Mac Defender malware
Mac Virus/Malware Info
Identifying and removing MacDefender trojans

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Safari won't open docx files after download

The "open safe files after download" button is checked. I unchecked it, shutdown safari, rechecked it and it still isn't working.

How do I get that file type on the "safe to open" list?
I'm not sure there is any way to do that, and if there is, I wouldn't recommend it, because Word files are not necessarily safe to open -- they can include harmful macros. You can try the suggestion linked below, but I haven't tested it.
OSX 10.6 Download Assessment Safe Files

Unchecking 'Open "safe files after downloading' not working

After unchecking "Open 'safe files after downloading'", files open anyway and do not download to the specified directory (Safari 2.0.4). Instead, I am forced to preview them, and have to manually save. I had this option unchecked on my Powerbook G4 (Safari 1.3.2), and it worked without problems. Any suggestions?

I'm geussing you're using Safari as your internet browser? Try Firefox as a browser. It will allow you to view PDF documents in the browser itself, without downloading the document to your Download folder and it doesn't require Adobe to do so.

"Open safe files after downloading" option stopped working

Hello,
the safari "Open safe files after downloading" stopped working. Even when is checked, it doesn't open anything, no jpgs, no dmgs, no zips. Not sure what could've happened. I installed the new Safari 4.03 update and Speed download today. Any ideas what may be causing this problem? Thank you

Hi Steve
One suggestion is to create via the Finder a specific download folder for your attachments. Then in the Finder, drag the folder to the sidebar. Now in Mail, when you save the attachment, simply click on the sidebar location to facilitate the save. Then, go to the Finder, click on the sidebar folder for easy access to the attachment. Remember too, Mail attachment save feature gives you the option of directly importing any images into iPhoto.

My Safari can´t open .dmg files after downloading

I updated to Mac OS X 4.9. But since this update, Safari cannot open .dmg files after downloading! On 10.4.8 it was not a problem. What can I do?
eMac G4 PPC Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Darn...I thought that would do the trick.
Given the other problems you mention, more and more, it seems a reinstall of the OS, using Archive and Install is going to be necessary. Have you ever done an Archive & Install of the OS? Important you carefully read the description of the process. If you are uncertain, I find the Take Control Upgrading to Tiger E-zine to be a very helpful guide.
Once you reinstall the OS, then you can upgrade to 10.4.8 using the combo update, repairing permissions via Disk Utility in your Utilities folder when complete.
One question: Not sure why you have run into all these problems on the 10.4.9 upgrade. It worked without problem for me. Anything unusual happen during the install?
Message was edited by: Hawaiian_Starman

Can't open Pdf files after download

After downloading the new iOS 7 manual from the Apple web page, I find neither preview nor abobe reader will open it. dialogue box comes up saying file is damaged and could not be opened.
However, other pdf files already on the Mac open fine. Can anyone help here?

Remove any Adobe PDF plugin files from /Library/Internet Plug-Ins. Then try redownloading the file.

Can't open pdf files after downloading from Safari 6.0.5

I was wondering whether anyone else has encountered this bug. Ihave a retina MBP with Safari and Firefox. If I save a pdf to the desktop via Safari I get the following message when I try to open it "There was an error opening this document. The file is damaged and could not be repaired".
When I download the same file via Firefox, it opens no problem.
It would, therefore seem to be a Safari 6.0.5 pdf problem, rather than an Adobe Acrobat Pro (11.0.3).
I have tried with both extension displayed and not displayed options, no difference.
Can anyone suggest anything?
Thanks for reading.

I encountered the same problem. In my case, the culprit was a plug-in in the Internet Plug-Ins sub-folder of my User Account's Library folder.
Here's how I proceeded, based on a suggestion by Carolyn Samit here:
<https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5117605?start=0&tstart=0>
1. Open the Finder.
2. In the Finder menu bar, click on the heading Go. Scroll down to "Go to Folder," and then click the mouse button again.
3. Copy the following phrase:
/Library/Internet Plug-Ins
and then paste that phrase into the field in the navigation window that appeared at the end of Step 2.
3. Click Go.
4. If you find a plug-in named AdobePDFViewer.plugin, drag it to the Trash.
5. Quit and then relaunch Safari. Then try to load in Safari a PDF from a web site. Then try saving it. Once saved/downloaded, try opening the PDF.
When I followed this procedure, the corrupted-PDF problem went away, thanks to Ms. Samit's suggestion.

Safari unzipping .gz files (even after unchecking "open safe files...")

I know this question has been answered before, but unfortunately I have the same problem and it is NOT solved by standard advice of simply unchecking Safari > Preferences > General > Open "safe" files after downloading.
I have unchecked that box, even restarted Safari and still if I download a .gz file it gets unzipped. Anyone have any other advice?
I'm running mountain lion (10.8.4) and Safari 6.0.5.
Thanks.
-JJ

Try this ...
Open a Finder window. From the Finder menu bar click Go > Go to Folder
Type or copy paste the following:
~/Library/Safari/Downloads.plist
Click Go then move the Downloads.plist file to the Trash
Quit and relaunch Safari to test.
If that doesn't help, copy or paste the following:
~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Safari.plist
Click Go then move the com.apple.Safari.plist file to the Trash.
Again, quit and relaunch to test.

Safari will not open PDF files and links

I know this has been posted before, but I have tried every suggestion including downloading and reinstalling Safari and Adobe Reader.. When I click on link to pdf file/document in Safari I get a new page but it opens as blank and black. This issue does not exist with Firefox. I have the latest versions of Safari and Reader. I mostly use safari and would appreciate any assistance with this issue.

HI,
Right or control click a PDF file, then click: Get Info
In the Get Info window click the pop up menu next to: Open with;
If Adobe Reader is not available from the list click Other. Navigate to your Applications folder and select Adobe Acrobat Reader, then click: Change All.
Relaunch Safari.
Also, from the Safari Menu Bar click Safari/Preferences then select the General tab.
Make sure: Open "safe" files after downloading is ticked.
Carolyn

Linking to a MS word file in Safari does not open the file

I access a web site that has hyperlinks to MS Word files. When I click on the link the following happens.
1. I get a new empty window
2. I get the download window showing the file
But the file does not load in Word.
I have to manually click on the file to load it into word.
When I access the same page with Firefox,and click on the hyperlink the Word file loads into Word with no action required by me.
Is this they way Safari works or is there some preference I can set to make it load the file into Word?
Safari does open pdf files fine.

1. I get a new empty window
2. I get the download window showing the file
This is normal for a site that has the Word files links set up to open in a new page. (Which is almost necessary in Windows IE, since IE will open the Word doc in the same browser window otherwise, losing all web site navigation.) But Safari doesn't open Word files directly, so you get that blank new window while the file downloads in the background.
But the file does not load in Word.
What do you have in Safari > Preferences, in the General section, for "Open safe files after downloading"? If you have that box checked, files that the Mac OS considers "safe" (JPEGs, PDF files, etc.) will open automatically in the default program for that type of file. The only question is whether Word documents are considered safe. They might not be, since they can carry macro viruses. Checking now...
I tested that, and it seems that Word files are not considered "safe" files and will not open automatically with that setting checked. The alternative: when the downloads window opens, it shows the file you just downloaded. You can double-click on the Word file's icon to open it in Word, without navigating to the downloaded file on your hard drive to open it.
Message was edited by: Rachel R

Disabling Automatic "Safe File" Opening in Safari for Windows

I need 2 know how to *+Disabling Automatic "Safe File+"* Opening in Safari for windows.
In options/general tab i don´t have the option that safari for mac have to disable it!

Those pictures are .jpg images; the downloading is a function of the way they've constructed the links to them on the web site. But no file is being opened. The opening of "safe" files after downloading refers to files that are compressed or executable, and .jpg are not that.
Aside from that, this appears to be a function that has been removed from Safari for Windows, so no files will open after downloading, regardless of whether or not they're "safe".
Mulder

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Hi there,
I got a question from one user having issue with opening Excel file after exporting from Disco Plus.
The report has been using for a while and he is using Excel 2003 version and Discoverer 10g(10.1.2.2), he never got this kind of error before, just recently got error.
After exporting from Disco Plus he saved file on his desktop and when he tries to open the excel it says "Cannot be Accessed, can be corrupted...." but this is not from network drive since he saved file on local desktop or C drive.
Also not for all reports, only this particular report and only specific parameter, for example for parameter 2008 Feb opened successfully, but for2009 Feb he gets this error when trying to open excel.
i tried in excel 2007 also , i dont think this is Excel version error, am not sure.
Also after go live last week (we upgraded database from 9i to 10g) but i am not sure this causes ,since for one parameter working, for other parameter not working.
Actually we should get one window for Macro when we try to open excel, but he is not getting it seems.
Any ideas/thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your help
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Rod,
Thanks for your quick response on this.
Yes, we can export to other formats as well, but actually exporting is working, after saving the file on our local desktop/drive and when we try to open we get this kind messages or we cannot open the file, we should get message window for Macro to enable/disable but for this report we are not getting this either,
Also this happens only for specific parameters,like i mentioned above it works I mean excel file opens for one set of parameters but for some other set of parameters cannot open.
For example :- when we enter FEB 2008 it works, if we enter FEB 2009 it won't open the file.
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Skat

Opening Safe Files

Is there any way to add file types to Safari's List of "safe" Files? The list is pretty limited.

Hi Eric,
Weather today is cold, raining, high of 37....
All is well after the shakin. Sure woke everyone, perhap to a different reality. Very glad we didn't have any damage. However, I sure know now without doubt who is in charge around here.
Safari is somewhat restrictive or cautious about how files open after a download. Haven't tried the Firefox download feature. I'll give it a go.
Please mark this post "solved". Helpful for others looking for a helpful suggestions to a similar question, also helpful for me. Aloha from Big Island.
iMac G5 Rev C 20" 2.5gb RAM 250 gb HD/iBook G4 1.33 ghz 1.5gb RAM 40 gb HD Mac OS X (10.4.8) LaCie 160gb d2 HD Canon i960 printer

Cannot open powerpoint file after renaming it.

Cannot open powerpoint file after I renamed it. I keep getting error messages -35 and -108. It says I have unknown access to the file now. What can I do?

As a cross-reference:
Eric Root
Re: Hi! I have a problem with finder
01.03.2014 12:14 (in response to Fexei)
Go to Finder and select your user/home folder. With that Finder window as the front window, either select Finder/View/Show View options or go command - J. When the View options opens, check ’Show Library Folder’. That should make your user library folder visible in your user/home folder. Select Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist. Move the .plist to your desktop.
Re-launch Finder by logging out/in and test. If it works okay, delete the plist from the desktop.
If the same, return the .plist to where you got it from, overwriting the newer ones.
Thanks to leonie for some information contained in this.
You might need to redo the View settings after an update.
Resolved the Problem! Thanks to Eric and Leonie
Felix

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strange thing when i updated keynote to 1.3.1 was that the stripe above the screen changed to dark gray to white!
I thought that was new interface but suddenly it has error opening the file.
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this backup keynote file worked just great on 1.3 vers.
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is the file,
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I tried your file on the iPad and Keynote crashed. Then I transferred the file to my Mac, opened it in Keynote on Mac, saved it, and synched back to iPad. Now I can open the file on the iPad -- it takes some time due to all the images. Also, here are some delays between the slides when presenting on the iPad.
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Malware - Safari users - disable Open"safe" files after downloading

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