Security won't let me open downloaded exe files

HI there

I have only had my laptop 6 months, and I recently got a nasty virus on it that shut everything down. I managed to salvage it and it now works OK, problem is that since the virus I cannot run downloaded exe files. A windows security box pops up and says 'These files can't be opened. Your Internet Security settings prevented one or more files from being opened.'.

The virus I had was a fake antivirus that installed itself on my laptop and stopped task manager and other stuff from working. This is all now fixed and its just this downloading problem.

I have tried changing all security settings to low and this doesn't work. I also tried custom levels and ensured all downloading was enabled. Finally I tried checking it all in the registry by going to Internet Settings and ensuring that 1803 was set to 0 and it was in both local machine and current user.

Can anyone help as I'm really stuck now.

jencarr said:

HI there

I have only had my laptop 6 months, and I recently got a nasty virus on it that shut everything down. I managed to salvage it and it now works OK, problem is that since the virus I cannot run downloaded exe files. A windows security box pops up and says 'These files can't be opened. Your Internet Security settings prevented one or more files from being opened.'.

The virus I had was a fake antivirus that installed itself on my laptop and stopped task manager and other stuff from working. This is all now fixed and its just this downloading problem.

I have tried changing all security settings to low and this doesn't work. I also tried custom levels and ensured all downloading was enabled. Finally I tried checking it all in the registry by going to Internet Settings and ensuring that 1803 was set to 0 and it was in both local machine and current user.

Can anyone help as I'm really stuck now.

Hello jencarr,

Welcome to SevenForums!

Have you re-scanned your laptop (with Malwarebytes or your AV) if there are still any remnants of the virus?

It's much better to backup your files and then do a repair install (or a fresh, clean install). Such damage has been done to your PC by the virus, making it unstable and restoring your PC's normal, stable and healthy state would surely be very exhausting.

Run malwarebytes
Malwarebytes

Or do a system restore
System Restore

Yes I've tried running malwarebytes and nothing has changed. I also cannot do a system restore as the virus deleted all my system restore files.

Oh and also I got my laptop with the OS already installed and no disc so I can't reinstall... I'm really stuck

jencarr said:

Oh and also I got my laptop with the OS already installed and no disc so I can't reinstall... I'm really stuck

You must contact the manufacturer or the authorized vendor of your laptop and ask them to reinstall Windows for you. If it's still under warranty, technical support/repair should be free of charge.

Try the solutions in these threads.

Internet security settings prevents one or more files from being opened

Your Internet security settings prevented one or more files from being opened.

If those dont help, run a sfc scan 3-4 times.

SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

Bill2 said:

Try the solutions in these threads.

Internet security settings prevents one or more files from being opened

Your Internet security settings prevented one or more files from being opened.

If those dont help, run a sfc scan 3-4 times.

SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

Sorted! This thread Internet security settings prevents one or more files from being opened

showed me that 'Launching applications and unsafe files' was disabled in my custom levels settings. I'd missed that one when I checked it before. Thanks so much!

Didn't work for me...