"File Download Security Warning"

[Tony UK]

I originally posted under this heading on June 6. At that time I said:

In the last few days, when I have clicked on certain links, a Window opens
headed "File Download Security Warning".

It says underneath: "Do you want to save this file or find a program online
to open it?" The name of the file is stated, and is said to be of the type
"Unknown Filetype".

Below that there are buttons offering "Find", "Save" and not surprisingly
"Cancel". If you click on "Find" a Window opens headed "Windows File
Association" This says the file is "MIME Type: Application/x-gzip-compressed."

None of this is normal, so I used System Restore to go back three days. This
seems to have cured most of the errant links, but not all. The problem
remains. When you click on a link, you should go to that link, right?

I am in need of help if anyone has a simple way of explaining how to cure
this glitch
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There were a few responses to my problem. The most interesting one was from
a gentleman who said:

"IE8 installed. What do you have selected in
IE\Properties\Security\Downloads?"

I had no idea then or now how to find this path, where it started or how to
deal with what he had suggested. My only ability was to uninstall IE8, which
took care of the problem. But I want to have IE8, which is an improvement on
IE7. So can some kind person please tell me, click by click, how I can
achieve a clean installation without problems? How do I find the path?

 

[Andrew Murray]

Unless I misunderstand the question, you need a utility to open the GZIP
file. The behaviour you describe then, is perfectly normal. The file
you're downloading seems to be a "GZIP" file (MIME Type:
Application/x-gzip-compressed).

From your description it seems Windows doesn't recognise the "GZIP" file
type and can't find an appropriate utility to open the file (therefore asks
if you want to do the search to find such a tool online).

Such utilities include: http://www.gzip.org/ or
http://www.irnis.net/soft/wingszip/

Read more about GZIP: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gzip


The issue with security warning is normal; Windows will usually warn you
that ZIP files MAY contain malicious files, and therefore open "at your own
risk". It's advised to scan the file with your security tools first
(antivirus/anti-spyware etc)