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01-06-2008, 12:33 PM #1WHT Addict
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- Jul 2003
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- Miami, FL
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- 145
Is .EXE "potentially unsafe to.......
I installed WinZip in order to unzip FOXIT (PDF file) and
when I directed WZ to unzip - this was the answer:
"This file contains potentially unsafe file types - .EXE - and
unless you feel you downloaded from a reliable source....."
Well, I don't remember the source I downloaded FOXIT from
because someone on this panel suggested it and gave a link
"click here" and I used it.
Can someone with experience tell me if I should go ahead
and unzip FOXIT ???? Or would I be asking for trouble ?
Lots of thanks and belated Happy New Year.
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01-06-2008, 12:43 PM #2Retired Moderator
- Join Date
- Mar 2004
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- Singapore
- Posts
- 6,990
If unsure, do not open, save the attachment and use a virus scanner to scan it first. It is better to be safe than sorry. Far too many viruses around. The person who gave you the link may have good intentions, but you never know if it had been infected unknowingly.
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01-06-2008, 12:53 PM #3Aspiring Evangelist
- Join Date
- Oct 2007
- Location
- Mississauga, ON
- Posts
- 377
Foxit's a good PDF reader; I'd recommend it over Adobe's any day (I for one don't like waiting 15+ seconds for a PDF reader to start up =P). Anyway, scan the zip with an antivirus, one that's capable of scanning inside archives/zip files (or extract the zip to a folder and scan the contents of the folder; you won't get infected simply by extracting the zip). WinZip will give you the exe warning regardless of whether the contents are infected or not.
If you've got problems with the zip, you can grab Foxit's EXE installer and give that a scan/try.
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01-06-2008, 01:18 PM #4Newbie
- Join Date
- Jun 2007
- Posts
- 27
A .exe file can always be unsafe mostly because it is a program which can, if programmed to do so, create files and create registry entries, everything thats needed to install a virus. I find it unnessary to scan EVERYTHING that you download, because if its from a reliable source, then it shouldn't be dangerous. But if its from an unknown source, I usually eather go somewhere else to get it if possible, or just scan it.
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01-06-2008, 02:04 PM #5An Awesome Dude
- Join Date
- Oct 2002
- Posts
- 13,624
Originally Posted by gypsy
Tinyurl is the answer for posting long urls!!!
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01-06-2008, 02:12 PM #6Web Hosting Master
- Join Date
- May 2007
- Location
- United States
- Posts
- 598
.exe's are unsafe if they are from an unknown source. Don't run or unzip unless you trust them
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01-06-2008, 03:40 PM #7WHT Addict
- Join Date
- Jul 2003
- Location
- Miami, FL
- Posts
- 145
Thanks all. Great info here. I did run a scan and it had 2
infections but AVG "healed" one and removed the other. So I'm
guessing it's safe to run now.
And thanks loads Gypsy for that link to Foxit Install.
I wonder how The Dude got a 3.01 PDF. I used to have a 6.0 which
was somewhat OK but even that is nowhere to be found anymore.
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01-06-2008, 11:33 PM #8An Awesome Dude
- Join Date
- Oct 2002
- Posts
- 13,624
You can find them all here my friend
http://www.oldversion.com/program.php?n=acrobat
or
http://www.oldapps.com/acrobat_reader.htm
Tinyurl is the answer for posting long urls!!!
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01-07-2008, 07:40 AM #9WHT Addict
- Join Date
- Jul 2003
- Location
- Miami, FL
- Posts
- 145
Thanks for that link Dude ! These "oldies" are hard to find
and the latest versions are shoved down the throats of downloaders.
Incidentally, with everyone's help, I installed WinZip- scanned
my Foxit download - cleaned out a reported infection - and things
are running fine. Thanks for the help - all of you out there.
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01-07-2008, 10:43 PM #10An Awesome Dude
- Join Date
- Oct 2002
- Posts
- 13,624
Yes i know......
OLDER versions are MUCH BETTER (In many cases)
Tinyurl is the answer for posting long urls!!!