How to control file types assigned to downloads?

O

OrganLeroy

Registered
I use Internet Explorer to download statements from my bank. I use IE because it lets me specify (in the Preferences-->File Helpers window) how to handle specific file types when downloading, and what action to take after downloading them.

I've just bought a new Powerbook, and despite the fact that I'm using the exact same version of IE on it as with my older iBook, with identical preferences, I can't get my downloaded bank statements to appear with the correct file type.

So, two questions:

Is there some setting in OS X that is overriding my IE download/file type preferences on my new Powerbook?

Does Safari have any of these options?

thanks for any help...
 
OrganLeroy said:
... download/file type preferences ...

I know it's a problem. I use Firefox, which looks at a hidden "MIME Type" instead of the filetype extension on the name, and prompts me to define what to do with unknown MIME types, but hasn't apparently got a place to do this. I know it's a vulnerability -- read that it's possible to sneak past this with a trojan because what you see and what the browser relies on don't necessarily agree.

But I gather there's some way to cope with the problem. Good question...
Click to expand...
 
OrganLeroy said:
Is there some setting in OS X that is overriding my IE download/file type preferences on my new Powerbook?

Does Safari have any of these options?
Click to expand...
  • Have you checked the Internet Explorer > Preferences > File Helpers to see what helper applications are assigned to each file type?
  • Safari uses whatever file helpers are assigned in Internet Explorer and does not have it own facility for changing file mappings or protocol helper applications.
  • The freeware application MisFox from the developer of iCab has the ability to change both file mappings and protocol helper applications, and that will span most browsers including Safari.
 
Latest newsletter I got from rixstep.com

http://www.rixstep.com/3/ (for the Mac-X newsletter; subscribers can read the archives, see today's issue)

comments on all the above, and the paranoid-android tool, and says there's more bad news not yet disclosed about Apple vulnerabilities associated with this file type and Applescript problem, and advises basically not allowing anything to open automatically at all.

Rixstep promises to give Apple ten weeks' grace to produce a fix before disclosing the vulnerability they're going to add to the list.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top