Safari Preference "safe" mode.

[annfaulk]

Before installing Mac V4 version of malwarebytes, I was told to uncheck the "safe" mode " in Safari Prefernces. Do I leave this as is or go back and check it?

[alvarnell]

I'm guessing you mean the Safari>General option to 'Open "safe" files after downloading'. If that's the case, it has long been recommended that this option remain unchecked, regardless of whether you have Malwarebytes or anything else installed. It has been shown to be possible for many of the listed so-called "safe" files to be disguised malware or cause malware to be downloaded or installed on your computer, so my personal recommendation to all users is to never enable that option.

[annfaulk]

Thank you very much. That was the file I was referring to.

[brcd]

So, leaving this unchecked one would manually open the files or whatever  if the sender or whomever/whatever is a trusted site known to the user?

[annfaulk]

Yes, you would open the files manually.

[brcd]

Thanks. I had no idea that safe mode could let in malware.  I have always resisted the urge to tinker with Apples settings.  This is good to know.

[treed]

A lot of us in the security industry have long disagreed with Apple's choice to have that setting turned on by default, or even to have it as a setting at all. Leaving it checked doesn't run potential malware automatically after downloading, but it could leave malware in a state where it could be opened accidentally through seemingly unrelated user actions (such as trying to open a particular file type that triggers a downloaded app to open).

[brcd]

Unchecked. Thanks for the additional information.