Stop software from saving me from myself

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How can I get Windows to stop treating me like an idiot and just let me do what I want?
OK, that’s vague.
Specifically, sometimes when opening a file, I get a message asking me if I really want to open that file, along with a checkbox that – if left checked – will ask me every time I open that file.
I want to be clear: this is not the one that asks if I want to open this type of file. It’s asking me if I want to open this particular file. It almost exclusively happens with images downloaded from the internet. But it is not at all consistent. I download images all the time, but only sometimes run into this message.
It doesn’t happen only on certain file types either. Here is a screenshot for an image I downloaded today. It’s a jpg – the most common image I download!
31406-Image1

Is there somewhere / somehow I can turn off this unnecessary “protection”?
Thanks!

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You might try to change your UAC settings. I am not sure if this will allow this type of change, but worth trying.

Control Panel, User Accounts, Change User Account Control Settings.

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I believe it’s down to how you have installed your programs. This is how I do it. 31011-Installing

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Nice little PDF presentation Roderunner 😉

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You can use Local Group Policy Editor to disable warnings for all future downloads, by enabling “Do not preserve zone information in file attachments“, or at the same place adding certain file type extensions such as .jpg to your “Inclusion list for low risk file types” and enabling that option:

Run > gpedit.msc > Local Group Policy Editor > Local Computer Policy> User Configuration> Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Attachment Manager

Description of how the Attachment Manager works in Microsoft Windows

The warning may currently seem haphazard because you download files from sites in different zones, e.g. some downloads are from trusted sites.

Bruce

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My Win 7 Home Premium does not appear to have the program “gpedit.mcs”. What version are you running? How does one do it in Win 7 Home Premium?

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My Win 7 Home Premium does not appear to have the program “gpedit.mcs”.  What version are you running? How does one do it in Win 7 Home Premium?

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gpedit.msc, not mcs.

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How can I get Windows to stop treating me like an idiot and just let me do what I want?

Is there somewhere / somehow I can turn off this unnecessary “protection”?

StickBoy,

Hello… There is a free program that i have used for years called WinBubble I use the old program1.76 works on Vista and “7” 32 and 64.You can use the new if you want…:cheers: Regards Fred

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I don’t want to stop you from removing the layers of protection, but for the benefit of casual readers it may be worthwhile noting why these layers are in place.

Windows, like all other modern operating systems requires users to have elevated privileges to access certain areas or to perform certain functions. Opening the system up to allow free and unfettered access can, potentially, lead to unforeseen and unwanted consequences. Downloaded images can be crafted to contain malicious code which, depending on the application used to open them can be exploited to open an injection route for malware.

For several years now, Microsoft have struggled with the success of early XP systems which by default allowed the user much more open access and as a consequence were much easier to infect with malware. As users, we came to expect the degree of access delivered and railed against it when potentially dangerous mechanisms where protected. Now, Microsoft are caught between a rock and a hard place trying to secure the system, while not annoying users with spurious security prompts.

Interesting to note that OSX, Linux and all other modern systems have similar protective requirements.

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Did an experiment. I downloaded the exact same image from the same website using Firefox, then using Chrome. The one from Firefox opened fine. The one from Chrome popped up the little message. So I guess this is a Chrome issue, then? Should I just re-install using the Administrator installation thingy? Or is there maybe some setting that got discombobulated on the last update?
(Windows tells me I don’t have gpedit.msc)

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(Windows tells me I don’t have gpedit.msc)

It doesn’t exist in Windows 7 Home Premium.

Bruce

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I strongly recommend leaving this protection in place. While you are aware of downloading specific files and have assessed their potential for danger, there are other cases where you might be unaware that such a think is happening. You could innocently or inadvertently click on something that causes an exe file to be downloaded and run. And then you are had! But if you leave the protection, this scenario causes a popup, which leads to a “???” moment, which leads to you disallowing the app to run. Better that than being infected by a virus.

Also, the protection is enabled by setting a flag on the file. It would appear that you have either a plugin or setting in Firefox that is turning the flag off automatically (things I downloading Firefox have the flag and ask me for permission). I suggest you not do any web browsing with Firefox (unless you can find the setting or plugin involved) and stick with Chrome.

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I strongly recommend leaving this protection in place. While you are aware of downloading specific files and have assessed their potential for danger, there are other cases where you might be unaware that such a think is happening. You could innocently or inadvertently click on something that causes an exe file to be downloaded and run. And then you are had! But if you leave the protection, this scenario causes a popup, which leads to a “???” moment, which leads to you disallowing the app to run. Better that than being infected by a virus.

Also, the protection is enabled by setting a flag on the file. It would appear that you have either a plugin or setting in Firefox that is turning the flag off automatically (things I downloading Firefox have the flag and ask me for permission). I suggest you not do any web browsing with Firefox (unless you can find the setting or plugin involved) and stick with Chrome.

Actually, it’s things like this that push me to not use Chrome. I am not an idiot. If I click on something, it’s because I want it to open. I understand the need for certain protections across all installations of Windows. But now it’s mine and I want to customize it so it’s usable and not stopping me every time I try to do something. It is the reason I have UAC completely turned off. And it is the reason I want to get rid of this stupid popup. Image files don’t hurt! I am not randomly clicking on exe files. And even if I were, my anti-virus would protect me. Twice, in fact: it scans all downloads and it scans all programs when try to start them. I don’t need a popup asking me if I want to open an image!
Think of it this way: I just downloaded an image. Now I want to open it. If there is something malicious about it, how would I know? This popup does nothing! Yes, I want to open that file, because I just double-clicked it. The message doesn’t scan the file, and it doesn’t warn me it contains a virus. It’s simply a popup that is telling me what I am doing. I already know what I am doing. I can’t imagine there is anybody who will say no don’t open it. So the message is pointless. And I want it gone.
So instead of telling me to find the flag in Firefox and reset it, how about telling me how to find the flag in Chrome and unset it?
Thanks!

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Check here:

[INDENT]Settings>Advanced settings>Privacy>Content Settings>Images>Show all. Also make sure no exceptions are set in that section too.[/INDENT]

Now, consider that the messages are not asking you if you want to open the image, but suggesting that you might wish to ensure that it is safe before opening it.

A downloaded “image” is not an image at all. It is a computer file that is created in a particular format which can be interpreted by software on your machine. That software can be attacked or exploited and can be forced or tricked into doing things it would not normally do.

Hence, be sure not to click on obfuscated executable files. A file name can be crafted to look like a jpg, when in fact it could be and exe (for example filename.jpg.exe is an executable but most Windows installations will show it as filename.jpg).

A zip file is not more dangerous than a .jpg. With a zip file, Windows will show you the content first. Zip files are often considered dangerous by less experienced users because they think the content are somehow hidden. Email programs will block exe files, but allow zip files – this is a source of many infection, but not a fault of the zip file – a fault of the user.

Finally be aware that no antivirus tool is perfect. Safe internet use relies on multiple layers of security. One of the most important is the user being careful.

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Furthermore!
I just downloaded an exe file with Chrome. As expected, I got the popup message when I tried to run it.
Then I downloaded a zip file with Chrome and it opened without the popup message. Aren’t zip files considerably more dangerous than jpg files? Yet Chrome warns about jpg files but not zip files….
Inside that zip file was an exe file. When unzipped, the exe file ran without the popup message!
Soooo … yeah. Please tell me how to turn it off!

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The irony lies in your very last sentence. Because the fact of the matter is that those computer users who don’t know the previous bit are unable or unlikely to be careful. Those of us who do know the previous bit are already careful enough and don’t need our hands held.

One of the first things I do on a new Windows installation is turn on extensions for all files. The way Microsoft has the default is just plain dangerous. But at least they have a popup to tell me when I am opening an image file….:huh:

Still not seeing the danger in an image file….

My point about the zip file is that it can contain a malicious exe file, which is not warned about, where the image file is being warned about.
I actually find Windows handling of zip files to be quite confusing. Am I opening the file or just unzipping it? I never know what’s happening. So I use PeaZip.

Appreciate the tip about the image settings, but when I went there it was already set as you suggested, with no exceptions.

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@StickyBoy – I think your issue lies with the way the Windows Attachment Manager (WAM) feature is configured, see BruceR’s post above – #5.

If you open the file in the Windows Picture and Fax Viewer (WPFV) and you don’t get the message then your issue is almost certainly the WAM configuration.

Have a read of the Microsoft Link in BruceR’s post to gain an “appreciation” of WAM’s purpose and functionality 😉

The following Win7 Forum Tutorials have registry ‘patches’ you can apply, given you don’t have the Group Policy Editor.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/124427-open-file-security-warning-allow-prevent-unblock-file.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/182353-open-file-security-warning-enable-disable.html

BTW : You might want to consider upgrading your Win7 Home Premium to Professional to get the Group Policy Editor
There are many useful things you can do with it even in a single user @ home environment.

MS expect Home Premium users to “hack” the registry to configure their systems.
MS provide GUI tools to Professionals and Corporate IT techies to configure their systems :go-figure:

Good Luck NW2222

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Stickboy,

I find it totally amazing that so many people could answer your post and not one of them came even close to flaming you.

Being a thoughtful gentleman, I will try my best to give you a perspective that you may or may not have considered. If it comes over as a flame, it is completely unintended and I would beg your forgiveness in advance.

Please consider the fact that when you boot a computer that is connected to the Internet by way of a broadband type of connection, you instantly have a connect capability to hundreds of millions of other users. There is NOTHING you can do on your “personal computer” that does not affect each and every one of them. Therefor, any mistake you make, either intended or unintended, has the potential to harm any or many of them.

As a person with 35 years of experience in computer design and repair, and who makes a hansom living repairing computers for people who knew or should have known of any given danger, please allow me to say that I love you because those of your persuasion are what feeds my family.

HOWEVER, as one who has to share the same World Wide Internet with you, may I humbly suggest that yours might not be the most responsible usage of this shared resource.

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Swampster:

I think you are flaming Stickboy, despite the fact that he makes sense. Look, if I want to open a program, that’s what I want to do. I don’t need my computer continually asking if I’m sure that’s what I want to do. That’s a waste of time. Now, if it scanned the program and warned me that something doesn’t seem right, that’s a much different story.
Frankly, when I get the usual “are you sure” cautions, I quickly click it. There is no delay to “rethink” what I am about to do. Those pop-ups are a totally useless annoyance

Mel

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Swampster:

I think you are flaming Stickboy, despite the fact that he makes sense. Look, if I want to open a program, that’s what I want to do. I don’t need my computer continually asking if I’m sure that’s what I want to do. That’s a waste of time. Now, if it scanned the program and warned me that something doesn’t seem right, that’s a much different story.
Frankly, when I get the usual “are you sure” cautions, I quickly click it. There is no delay to “rethink” what I am about to do. Those pop-ups are a totally useless annoyance

Mel

Where’s the Like button? This is exactly what I am saying!

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Stickboy,

I find it totally amazing that so many people could answer your post and not one of them came even close to flaming you.

Being a thoughtful gentleman, I will try my best to give you a perspective that you may or may not have considered. If it comes over as a flame, it is completely unintended and I would beg your forgiveness in advance.

I am sure some people will take your post as a flame and respond in some sarcastic way. This may sound sarcastic, but it’s not meant to be. (Yes it is.)

As someone who has been unsafely operating a computer connected to the internet for only 17 years, I wholeheartedly apologize for constantly bringing down the internet and crashing everyone else’s computer.

Probably the reason nobody bothered to flame me is because the folks on this forum are not a bunch of children with nothing better to do than pick a fight about nothing. People here genuinely want to help other computer users.

HOWEVER, as one who has to share the same World Wide Internet with you, may I humbly suggest that yours might not be the most responsible usage of this shared resource.

I put it to you that, although you call my computer practices unsafe, I do know a thing or two about safety and security. I feel I must remind you that you are sharing the interweb with millions of people – not just me. 🙂 I suspect a great percentage of them are far more unsafe than I. If this is a worry for you, I humbly suggest you exercise your right to opt-out of the internet, because you are not going to stop people from doing stupid and dangerous things with their computers with a few well-placed posts on forums.

Just sayin’. 😉

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I still fail to see what Stickboy is doing that is unsafe?He runs a good AV program. I assume he updates Windows and other software as needed?I assume he uses anti Malware type software.He probably doesn’t frequent known bad sites?Now, I don’t know this for sure, but I see nothing in this thread to indicate any unsafe practices.What is he — and I’m also speaking for myself– supposed to do? Read the warning and think,”now, do I really want to run this software that I really want to run…hmmmm”Mel

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Thanks NW2222. I hadn’t clicked the link in BruceR’s post because I figured it was more info on the Group Policy Editor, which I didn’t have. Having read it now … it still didn’t help. I tried messing with the Registry, but mine did not have the entries listed, and I really didn’t understand what I was doing.
So I downloaded the registry patch you listed and that worked. Thanks!

Of course, it only works on future downloads. I don’t suppose there is any sort of batch program that can Unblock everything on my hard drive? lol Wishful thinking, I believe, but I have to ask! Most of my images are fine, but every once in a while I run into a folder that has blocked images. (I believe this is a result of transferring files from my old computer to my new one, though you would think it would affect all the files, not just some.) Would be nice if I could unblock them all at once, or just run a program to scan my hard drive for blocked files and unblock them. Dangerous, I guess.

With regard to the Windows Attachment Manager – I still don’t understand why it protects me from files downloaded via Chrome but not Firefox. Is it because Firefox is my default browser? That would be odd, since the article seems to indicate this behaviour would be normal for Internet Explorer. (I never tested what happens with IE, since I never use it.)

With regard to the Group Policy Editor … is there no way to simply download that as a standalone? Or some other free utility? I have recently heard of a free program (forget the name) that is basically a Windows 7 version of TweakUI on steroids. I don’t really have a lot of complaints about Windows 7, but I do like to have full control of my computer.

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I still don’t understand why it protects me from files downloaded via Chrome but not Firefox. Is it because Firefox is my default browser?

I thought you might ask me that – I dunno either, I dont see what difference what Browser you use should make.
How do you you get the pictures from the page, drag drop, right click save as or some gadget like DtA, I have a vague suspicion it may make a difference.

Of course, it only works on future downloads. I don’t suppose there is any sort of batch program that can Unblock everything on my hard drive? lol Wishful thinking, I believe, but I have to ask! Most of my images are fine, but every once in a while I run into a folder that has blocked images. (I believe this is a result of transferring files from my old computer to my new one, though you would think it would affect all the files, not just some.) Would be nice if I could unblock them all at once, or just run a program to scan my hard drive for blocked files and unblock them. Dangerous, I guess.

I think that may be an Access Control List issue. What you need to do is to Take Ownership of the folder
This Vista Forum Tut (don’t worry it works on Win 7) will add an item to your right click menu to do just that ===>>> https://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/112795-context-menu-take-ownership.html

With regard to the Group Policy Editor … is there no way to simply download that as a standalone? Or some other free utility? I have recently heard of a free program (forget the name) that is basically a Windows 7 version of TweakUI on steroids. I don’t really have a lot of complaints about Windows 7, but I do like to have full control of my computer.

AFAIK their is no real alternative to the Group Policy Editor
I’m not aware of a way to download it as a one off, that may have been possible on XP, but I don’t think it’s an option on Vista or Win 7

The attached screen shot gives you an idea of the granularity it provides. You might be able to find tweakers to address specific issues.

Hope this helps – NW2222

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@stickboy,

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I think that may be an Access Control List issue. What you need to do is to Take Ownership of the folder
This Vista Forum Tut (don’t worry it works on Win 7) will add an item to your right click menu to do just that ===>>> https://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/112795-context-menu-take-ownership.html

Well, that didn’t work. 🙁
I installed the Take Ownership thing and I can use it on the folder or on pictures, but I still get the warning popup message.
I was hoping I could take that off with a batch program of some sort, but I guess not.
Thanks for trying!

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@Swampster, I’ll treat your non-contribution with the disdain it deserves, by ignoring you.

I suggest other Loungers do the same.

@balayage –

The Local Group Policy Editor is not included with Win 7 Home Premium
I do not know how to get it other than an upgrade to Windows 7 Professional.
AFAIK there is no comparable alternative, either Free or Pay4Me

NW

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@ northwood2222: Agreed, on all points.

@ compiler: What is safe for you may be unsafe to others.

There is however a valid point about information overload and hand-holding by the OS. I have a relative who simply closes all information dialogue boxes, regardless of what they say. Needless to say I have cleaned up malware attacks on their machines several times over the years. The reaction of my relative, is “I can’t be bothered reading or understanding the message, so I just close it”.

So what are the OS designers meant to do? Leave open the back door, or bolt it tight shut, or something in between. In Windows 7 Home Premium, they chose the middle ground, but as we know that is not satisfactory to all users.

A philosophical question: Is the reduction in security encountered by turning off these security features more or less dangerous than simply clicking them away? For me, the answer to that question lies in the vigilance, surfing habits and experience of the user.

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Chrome also has a phishing and malicous sites filter under Advanced settings (Privacy Heading). And there’s a popup button for even more content settings. Still, I see no Chrome-specific smoking gun here, as I rarely see these sorts of warnings in IE or Chrome in Windows 7 or Windows 8.

One thing I always turn off in IE and Windows is Smart Screen Filtering. Especially the Desktop Smart Screen Filter. Also, I have toned down UACs by one or two notches. Taken together, these actions do reduce my security, but annoying popup warnings are also reduced.

I don’t believe any of my actions has led me to do anything which has resulted in an infection on my computer. But I am an advanced home user when it comes to security and privacy awareness.

-- rc primak

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