How to show file extensions in Windows
This page addresses the problem where Windows by default likes to hide the
extensions of filenames, such that "britney.jpg" is shown as just
"britney". The danger is that "britney.jpg.exe", which is an
executable program, would be shown as "britney.jpg" which many would
mistake for just a picture. This is potentially very dangerous and confusing. It
is the basis for many of the recent Trojan
horse attacks and other email/IRC viruses.
The solution is simple - just unhide the extensions.
- In Windows 95/98:
- - Open Explorer
- Under View menu, select Options
- Check "show all files"
- UNcheck "hide MSDOS file extensions that are registered"
- Click OK to finish
- In Windows 2000 & Windows XP:
- - select Start | Settings | Control Panels | Folder Options
- select the View tab
- check "show hidden files and folders"
- UNcheck "hide file extensions for known file types"
- Click OK to finish
If the above minimal directions are not enough for you, call me, Allen Enterprises,
at 787-637-9100 for an appointment to correct this problem. I can also
connect to you remotely if you have a public IP address or if you have Windows
XP.
IMPORTANT EXCEPTION:
Even after you unhide the extensions using the above steps, you still cannot
see certain hidden extensions for files ending with .shs, .pif, and .lnk (blame
Microsoft for its infinite lack of wisdom). Unfortunately these files are
executable, and are rapidly becoming the most popular choices for many Trojan
horses, such as "Movie.avi.pif" which will look like "Movie.avi",
and "LIFE_STAGES.TXT.SHS" which will look like "LIFE_STAGES.TXT".
Instead of being a movie and text file, respectively, they are both dangerous
Trojans. MOST versions of Microsoft OUTLOOK and OUTLOOK express, by
default, block even these files.
More Information: So now that you can see the extensions, how do
you know which ones are dangerous? There are far too many to list
comprehensively, so a simpler rule is - when in doubt, don't download or run the
file. As the sayings go, don't take candy from strangers, and there are no free
lunches in life.
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