Security Warning Using Every Shortcut

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  1. Posts : 10
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       #1

    Security Warning Using Every Shortcut


    Yesterday my Windows 7 (64-bit) machine installed some Windows updates, including a few which are described as 'Security Update'.

    Since then whenever I try to start an application from a shortcut I have configured in my Favourites bar or from some (and only some) menu items, I get the standard "Do you want to open this file?" security warning. I have to click 'Open' and then the app happily proceeds. There's no "Always ask for this type of file" checkbox, so I can't get rid of it. It's extremely annoying.

    I've tried a couple of solutions I found on the internet:

    • run "ICACLS "C:\Users\\Desktop" /Setintegritylevel (OI)(CI)M" at the command line
    • change the security settings on IE to Medium

    None of them worked. I really don't want to muck about uninstalling updates - presumably they are serving some useful purpose (apart from just annoying me). So how do I fix this?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 10,485
    W7 Pro SP1 64bit
       #2

    For one of the problematic shortcuts, what do you see when you ask for:
    Code:
    ICACLS path-to-shortcut
    Can you please post a screenshot of that ICACLS query using these steps:
    Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums

    Are the shortcuts on the public desktop impacted - or only on the user's desktop?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 10
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    UsernameIssues said:
    For one of the problematic shortcuts, what do you see when you ask for:
    Code:
    ICACLS path-to-shortcut
    Can you please post a screenshot of that ICACLS query using these steps:
    Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums

    Are the shortcuts on the public desktop impacted - or only on the user's desktop?
    Some of the shortcuts affected are those in my Favourites. When I run ICACLS for that folder I get this:


    Code:
    ICACLS "C:\Users\user_name\pictures\favorites\links"
    
    "C:\Users\user_name\pictures\favorites\links" NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM: (I)(OI)(CI)(F)
                                                  BUILTIN\Administrators:(I)(OI)(CI)(F)
                                                  GL\user_name:(I)(OI)(CI)(F)
                                                  Mandatory Label\Medium Mandatory Level:(OI)(CI)(NW)
    
    Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       #4

    You could try this

    Right tick on the icon and select Advanced. Some icons will give you a option to check Run as admin.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 10,485
    W7 Pro SP1 64bit
       #5

    The permissions look fine. The integrity level is normally low, but I understand why you changed it to medium.

    Let's see if other forum members have a solution to this.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 10,485
    W7 Pro SP1 64bit
       #6

    Please pick one of the problematic shortcuts and run the ICACLS command against the shortcut file itself.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 10
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    UsernameIssues said:
    Please pick one of the problematic shortcuts and run the ICACLS command against the shortcut file itself.
    I did that - here's the commands:

    Code:
    C:\Users\user_name>ICACLS "C:\Users\user_name\Pictures\Favorites\Links\Explorer.lnk" /Setintegritylevel (OI)(CI)M"
    processed file: C:\Users\user_name\Pictures\Favorites\Links\Explorer.lnk
    Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files
    
    C:\Users\user_name>ICACLS "C:\Users\user_name\Pictures\Favorites\Links\Explorer.lnk"
    
    C:\Users\user_name\Pictures\Favorites\Links\Explorer.lnk NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(I)(F)
                                                             BUILTIN\Administrators:(I)(F)
                                                             GL\user_name:(I)(F)
                                                             Mandatory Label\Low Mandatory Level:(NW)
    
    Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files
    Sadly, it changed nothing. When I clicked the link I still got the same security warning.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 10,485
    W7 Pro SP1 64bit
       #8

    I have a Virtual Machine running W7 pro 64bit. That VM only has SP1 installed, so it does not have recent updates.

    This is what I see when I query with ICACLS:

    Security Warning Using Every Shortcut-il.png

    If I add a shortcut to explorer.exe to the folder named Links, that shortcut will have a LOW integrity level. Using the shortcut gives me the security prompt that you described. If I change the integrity level of that shortcut to MEDIUM, then the prompt will not appear.

    I'm not sure how you were able to use a shortcut to explorer from IE's Favorites bar (Links folder) without getting that prompt in the past.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 10
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    UsernameIssues said:
    I have a Virtual Machine running W7 pro 64bit. That VM only has SP1 installed, so it does not have recent updates.

    This is what I see when I query with ICACLS:

    Security Warning Using Every Shortcut-il.png

    If I add a shortcut to explorer.exe to the folder named Links, that shortcut will have a LOW integrity level. Using the shortcut gives me the security prompt that you described. If I change the integrity level of that shortcut to MEDIUM, then the prompt will not appear.

    I'm not sure how you were able to use a shortcut to explorer from IE's Favorites bar (Links folder) without getting that prompt in the past.
    So should I change the security level? Sorry, this conversation is getting a little out of my depth.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 10,485
    W7 Pro SP1 64bit
       #10

    I don't understand all of this either. I keep several shortcuts on IE's Favorites bar. Each of those shortcuts has a LOW integrity level... and yet, I do not see the security warning that you see for those shortcuts.

    I was able to replicate the security warning by placing a shortcut to Explorer on the Favorites bar. I have a theory as to why I do not always see the security warning, but let's not go there.

    You can change the integrity level for each shortcut that you deem is safe. Explorer should be safe to launch from the Favorites bar.

    ICACLS path-to-the-shortcut-file.LNK /Setintegritylevel M
    Last edited by UsernameIssues; 10 Feb 2016 at 19:48. Reason: typo
      My Computer


 
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:30.
Find Us