10.4: Modify how the system classifies 'safe' files
Dec 27, '05 06:21:00AM
Contributed by: Anonymous
You can modifying what Safari considers a 'safe' file using a local file that will override the global file-type security assessments.
If there's a file named com.apple.DownloadAssessment.plist in your user's Library/Preferences folder, it will override the global defaults for which files Safari considers "safe." You can also use this technique to make currently-safe files treated as unsafe. In fact, there are four different top-level risk categories:
- LSRiskCategorySafe - Auto-opened after download, if Safari has this option enabled.
- LSRiskCategoryNeutral - A neutral file won't be auto-opened, but there won't be a warning about its contents, either.
- LSRiskCategoryUnsafeExecutable - All executable files fall into this category, and you'll see a warning when you attempt to download one in Safari, Mail, etc.
- LSRiskCategoryMayContainUnsafeExecutable - This covers 'container' formats such as disk images and archives. If Safari/Mail can see the contents of the container and determine they're all safe, then no warning will be generated.
For more details on how to create your own custom settings for various file types using the com.apple.DownloadAssessment.plist file, see Modifying Safari Safe Files on the MacEnterprise.org website.
[robg adds: I haven't tested this one, but I would suggest caution if you're going to change how certain downloaded filetypes are handled...]
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