Mozilla 1.4 and downloading EXEs

When I want to download an EXE file, Mozilla always brings up a dialog box if I want to save the program to disk or open it with another program. But shouldn't it be able to run EXEs directly from the website like IE does? Is there something I need to change in my settings?

 

Hi shadowhawk,

To answer your question:

Mozilla does not allow you to run the file for security protection.

Here is the Mozilla reference for not allowing the run of exe files:

http://www.mozilla.org/start/1.0/faq/browser.html#2.9

2.9. Why doesn’t Mozilla allow me to run an .exe (executable file) directly from an Internet location?

This is a security precaution to help avoid malicious software getting onto your system or network. Not allowing a program to run directly from an Internet location allows you to make sure that what you are running is indeed what it seems, and to scan the file with anti-virus software if necessary.

Other files (documents) can still be launched directly from Mozilla.

Ramona

 

Can you launch things like RealVideo and sounds from the sites directly?

 

shadowhawk,

Yes you can launch that type of file from the web site.

Ramona

 

If you could open an executable file directly from the web (and you can with IE) chances are high that the file wouldn't be scanned early enought althought you've installed a virus scanner. But if you open the folder in Explorer nearly every Scanner scans this directory before you can do anything else in it.

On the other hand I would like to create a collection of my downloaded programs for later reference or sharing them on the network. Disk space isn't as expensive any more.