Open File Security Warning - Enable or Disable

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    Open File Security Warning - Enable or Disable

    Open File Security Warning - Enable or Disable

    How to Disable the "Open File Security Warning" in Windows
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Disable the "Open File Security Warning" in Windows


       Information
    This will show you how to enable or disable XP, Vista, or Windows 7 prompting you with the Open File Security Warning when you open or run a downloaded or copied file from the internet or another computer on your computer.

       Warning
    The Open File - Security Warning prompt is a security measure in Windows 7 and Vista to ask for your permission (like UAC) before allowing a downloaded or copied file from the internet or another computer to be opened or run on your computer.

    Disabling Open File - Security Warning will reduce the security level of Windows, and place your computer at a higher risk of being infected by malware.

    Disable at your own risk if you no longer want to have a Open File - Security Warning.


    EXAMPLE: Open File - Security Warning


    • Do you want to open this File? Unknown Publisher
    • The Publisher could not be verified. Are you sure you want to run this software? Unknown Publisher
    • Do you want tio run this file? Application
    Open File Security Warning - Enable or Disable-warning-1.jpg

    Open File Security Warning - Enable or Disable-warning-2.jpg

    Open File Security Warning - Enable or Disable-warning-3.jpg





    OPTION ONE

    To Enable or Disable "Zone File Checking" using a BAT File Download


    NOTE: This option will enable or disable the "Open File Security Warning" completely by enabling or disabling all security Zone checking.
    1. Do step 2, 3, 4, or 5 below for what you would like to do.

    2. To Enable Zone Checking for Current User Only
    NOTE: Step 4 or 5 below will override this step.
    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below to your desktop, run it, and go to step 7 below.
    Enable_Zone_Checking_for_Current_User.bat


    Download

    3. To Disable Zone Checking for Current User Only
    NOTE: Step 4 or 5 below will override this step.
    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below to your desktop, run it, and go to step 7 below.
    Disable_Zone_Checking_for_Current_User.bat


    Download

    4. To Enable Zone Checking for All Users
    NOTE: You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this option. This is the default setting. This step will override steps 2 and 3 above.
    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below to your desktop.
    Enable_Zone_Checking_for_All_Users.bat


    Download

    B) Right click on the downloaded .bat file, click on Run as administrator, and go to step 6 below.
    5. To Disable Zone Checking for All Users
    NOTE: You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this option. This step will override steps 2 and 3 above.
    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below to your desktop.
    Disable_Zone_Checking_for_All_Users.bat


    Download

    B) Right click on the downloaded .bat file, click on Run as administrator, and go to step 6 below.
    6. If prompted, click/tap on Run.

    7. You will now notice a command prompt quckly open and close while applying the changes to your registry.

    8. If you used step 4 or 5 above, then log off and on, or restart the computer to fully apply.



    OPTION TWO

    To Enable or Disable "Open File Security Warning" for Specific File Types using a REG File Download


    NOTE: This option uses the same group policy as OPTION THREE below, but will affect all users on the computer. You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this option.
    1. To Enable the "Open File Security Warning"
    NOTE: This is the default setting.
    A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
    Enable_Open-File_Security_Warning.reg
    B) Go to step 3.
    2. To Disable the "Open File Security Warning"
    A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
    Disable_Open-File_Security_Warning.reg
       Note
    This will include the same file extensions in step 4D of OPTION THREE below. If you would like to add or remove file extensions from the exception list, then:
    • After downloading the REG file, do steps 3-5 below first.
    • Open the Start Menu, type regedit in the search box, and press Enter.
    • If prompted by UAC, click on Yes (Windows 7) or Continue (Vista).
    • In regedit, navigate to the location below:
      • Code:
        HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Associations
    • In the right pane of Associations, double click on LowRiskFileTypes.
    • Add or remove file extensions using the same format, and click on OK when finished.
    • Close regedit, and go to step 6 below.
    Open File Security Warning - Enable or Disable-reg-1.jpgOpen File Security Warning - Enable or Disable-reg-2.jpg

    3. Save the .reg file to the desktop.

    4. Double click on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    5. Click on Run, Yes (Windows 7) or Continue (Vista), Yes, and OK when prompted.

    6. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

    7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.



    OPTION THREE

    To Enable or Disable "Open File Security Warning" for Specific File Types using the Local Group Policy Editor


    NOTE: You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this option.
    1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

    2. In the left pane, click on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and Attachment Manager. (see screenshot below)
    Open File Security Warning - Enable or Disable-gpedit-1.jpg
    3. To Enable the "Open File Security Warning"
    A) In the right pane, double click on Do not preserve zone information in file attachments. (see screenshot below step 2)

    B) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.
    Open File Security Warning - Enable or Disable-gpedit-2.jpg
    C) In the right pane, double click on Inclusion list for low file types. (see screenshot below step 2)

    D) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.
    Open File Security Warning - Enable or Disable-gpedit-3.jpg
    4. To Disable the "Open File Security Warning"
    A) In the right pane, double click on Do not preserve zone information in file attachments. (see screenshot below step 2)

    B) Select (dot) Enabled, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
    Open File Security Warning - Enable or Disable-gpedit-2.jpg
    C) In the right pane, double click on Inclusion list for low file types. (see screenshot below step 2)

    D) Select (dot) Enabled, then copy and paste the extensions below exactly as is into the Options box and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE: These are the most common file extensions for this. If you like, you could add or remove file extensions to or from the list at anytime for those that you want to or do not want to get a Open File - Security Warning for.
    Code:
    .avi;.bat;.com;.cmd;.exe;.htm;.html;.lnk;.mpg;.mpeg;.mov;.mp3;.msi;.m3u;.rar;.reg;.txt;.vbs;.wav;.zip;
    Open File Security Warning - Enable or Disable-gpedit-3.jpg
    5. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.


    That's it,
    Shawn





  1. Posts : 24,479
    Windows 7 Ultimate X64 SP1
       #1

    Good job Shawn, and quick on the draw too.

    However when I open the tutorial page (and others which have several thumbnails) the display is truncated on both sides.
    Open File Security Warning - Enable or Disable-truncated-display.png
    This is how it looks when I hit Reply to the thread.
    Open File Security Warning - Enable or Disable-truncated-display2.png

    EDIT: I just downloaded and Merged the Disable warning, and I am still getting the warning on the downloaded .reg file.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello Gary,

    Spacing issue fixed.

    Did you log off and log on, or restart the computer after merging the disable REG download?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 24,479
    Windows 7 Ultimate X64 SP1
       #3

    Well, no I didn't. It works now, got in a big hurry. Page looks fine now too. Thanks!
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    LOL, you're most welcome Gary. Thank you. :)
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 17
    Windows 7
       #5

    Another way is to create an environment variable called SEE_MASK_NOZONECHECKS and give it a value of 1. You can do this from an elevated command prompt: setx SEE_MASK_NOZONECHECKS 1

    See next post for information about dangers involved.


    Last edited by Cavaldi; 15 Nov 2012 at 01:43.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Hello Cavaldi,

    Thank you for another option. I'll add it now. :)

    The only problem with that is the same security risk it poses.

    Note Do not use this as a permanent system environment variable because it will disable all Zone Checking.

    (see Workaround at link)
    The Open File - Security Warning dialog box is displayed when you try to silently install a hotfix or an update by using a Visual Basic script in Windows XP Service Pack 2
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 17
    Windows 7
       #7

    Brink said:
    Hello Cavaldi,

    Thank you for another option. I'll add it now. :)

    The only problem with that is the same security risk it poses.

    Note Do not use this as a permanent system environment variable because it will disable all Zone Checking.

    (see Workaround at link)
    The Open File - Security Warning dialog box is displayed when you try to silently install a hotfix or an update by using a Visual Basic script in Windows XP Service Pack 2
    True. If possible, editing the GPO (method 3) to include shortcut files (.lnk) is preferable.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Done.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 116
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #9

    this broke my computer, now all my browsers when downloading block the downloads and I cant change the security settings.

    if the OP worded this better my computer would work, what is zone checking? who knows, all I know is I can no longer download anything since installing something from here must be a virus, all my downloads are blocked.

    someone should virus scan these files because they broke my computer.

      My Computer


 
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