Question re Safari web browsing

Joined
Aug 4, 2009
Messages
42
Reaction score
1
Points
8
Location
Georgia, USA
Your Mac's Specs
MacBook Pro Retina 13" (early 2015) Mojave
Greetings,

While using our new MacBook Pro w/Safari to search "adult beverage" reviews
on Google, all was normal.

When we clicked on a Google search hit, a window would open to the site,
and we could check it out, then go back and click another one.

One of the Google search hits did not work this way, instead we got a quick
download and an empty window. In the download folder we saw a sub-folder
with the name of the site, which we trashed without opening it.

Then we "right"-clicked that same Google search hit, chose "open", got
the same result as above.

We are new to Safari, and don't know if this is normal.

Thanks for any info!

JR/NR
 

bobtomay

,
Retired Staff
Joined
Dec 22, 2006
Messages
26,561
Reaction score
677
Points
113
Location
Texas, where else?
Your Mac's Specs
15" MBP '06 2.33 C2D 4GB 10.7; 13" MBA '14 1.8 i7 8GB 10.11; 21" iMac '13 2.9 i5 8GB 10.11; 6S
We're not going to have a clue either without the link to the specific address. For all we know it could have been a simple pdf file with a recipe.
 
Joined
Jul 30, 2009
Messages
7,298
Reaction score
302
Points
83
Location
Wisconsin
Your Mac's Specs
Mac Mini (Late 2014) 2.6GHz Intel Core i5 Memory: 8GB 1600MHz DDR3
Not normal. Could be a problem with that site. You could download another browser (like Firefox) and try it, and also try again with Safari if Firefox handles it. Then you'd know if it's the browser.

New MBP, so I assume OS 10.6.4 and Safari 5.0.2, but please verify.

Edit:
Even better suggestion above, as I was composing my post. And I see below, it led to the ultimate answer.
 
OP
GaZoom
Joined
Aug 4, 2009
Messages
42
Reaction score
1
Points
8
Location
Georgia, USA
Your Mac's Specs
MacBook Pro Retina 13" (early 2015) Mojave
Yes, New 13" MBP purchased 9-10-2010.

Searched Google for "bourbon reviews", site in question is "bourbon-central.com"

Just was thinking ahead to Winter, and stocking our "sippin" shelf.

Thanks!

JR/NR
 
C

chas_m

Guest
That site is attempting to give your computer a virus.

Isn't it great having a Mac? :)
 
OP
GaZoom
Joined
Aug 4, 2009
Messages
42
Reaction score
1
Points
8
Location
Georgia, USA
Your Mac's Specs
MacBook Pro Retina 13" (early 2015) Mojave
Thanks chas_m!

What would have happened if we just let that folder sit there?

What would have happened if we had opened that folder?

Would our MBP ask us what action to take?

Is there a Safari setting we can use to prevent unwanted downloading?

Thanks!

JR/NR
 
Joined
Sep 7, 2008
Messages
311
Reaction score
19
Points
18
Location
Shakopee, MN
Your Mac's Specs
iMac, late 2012 model, 21"
I just tried downloading the file and opening it. Nothing happened. Whatever they were trying to install would not run on the Mac. That's one of the beauties of owning those Windows viruses just don't work on OS X.
 
OP
GaZoom
Joined
Aug 4, 2009
Messages
42
Reaction score
1
Points
8
Location
Georgia, USA
Your Mac's Specs
MacBook Pro Retina 13" (early 2015) Mojave
Earlier, before our OP, that site "bourbon-central" was linked to at another review site.

When we clicked the link, Safari went to it normally. So when in a subsequent google search we saw that site (bourbon-central) and we clicked on it, since we had already been there.

That is when we got the unwanted download instead of the site opening up.

Is there a way to prevent this type of unwanted download?

Or does it not matter, since they are only a nuisance and not harmful to OS X?

Thanks!

We are certainly happy Mac-ers that no harm was done:)

JR/NR
 
C

chas_m

Guest
Is there a way to prevent this type of unwanted download?

No, but this is because unwanted downloads generally never happen: you were tricked into agreeing to the download by clicking on a link that was not an http site.

Or does it not matter, since they are only a nuisance and not harmful to OS X?

Doesn't matter.
 
OP
GaZoom
Joined
Aug 4, 2009
Messages
42
Reaction score
1
Points
8
Location
Georgia, USA
Your Mac's Specs
MacBook Pro Retina 13" (early 2015) Mojave
Thanks for the help, and yes, it is great to finally have a Mac :)

JR/NR
 
Joined
Aug 25, 2004
Messages
760
Reaction score
22
Points
18
Location
New Zealand
Your Mac's Specs
13" MBA. 15" MBP. iPhone 4. 3G Pad 2.
Just a couple of ideas: under Safari > Preferences > General > I would deselect open "safe" files after downloading. It's then up to you to decide.
Also check that your firewall is ON in System Preferences > Security > Firewall.
Have fun.
 
OP
GaZoom
Joined
Aug 4, 2009
Messages
42
Reaction score
1
Points
8
Location
Georgia, USA
Your Mac's Specs
MacBook Pro Retina 13" (early 2015) Mojave
Thanks!

JR/NR
 
C

chas_m

Guest
Also check that your firewall is ON in System Preferences > Security > Firewall.
Have fun.

Incorrect. First of all, the software firewall is not needed for people using routers, which have hardware firewalls. You are just setting up potential for conflicts between the two.

Second, no firewall on earth would have even tried to stop this virus-infecting attempt. That's not what firewalls do.
 

Shop Amazon


Shop for your Apple, Mac, iPhone and other computer products on Amazon.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Top