Strange .HTML Files Downloading

MikeIsGood · Apr 29, 2008

Some strange .HTML files are automatically showing up in my downloads folder. By strange, I mean: 1) I didn't download them, and 2) they're just a string of letters and numbers.

When I click one, it says it was downloaded and asks me if I want to open it up. I always click cancel out of precaution.

Anyone have any idea what these may be and how i can make them stop?

AlyciaAnimation · Apr 29, 2008

Maybe you are accidentally pressing option when you click on a link. When you do that it automatically downloads the linked item.

MikeIsGood · Apr 29, 2008

Thanks for the thought, but that's not the problem. I just tested that and it creates a .php on the desktop, not a .html in the downloads folder.

The Vindicat3d · Apr 29, 2008

Is it a constant occurrence or has this just happened once? If just once I suggest just deleting them and moving on, if it keeps happening I'll look into it some more.

belunos · Apr 29, 2008

If you post or Pm one, I can open it for edit and try to determine where it's coming from

MikeIsGood · Apr 30, 2008

The Vindicat3d said:
Is it a constant occurrence or has this just happened once? If just once I suggest just deleting them and moving on, if it keeps happening I'll look into it some more.

It was doing it for about two days, putting something in the folder maybe 5 times each day, but it seems to have stopped now. Maybe it was some certain sites I was going to (though I go nowhere "bad") that have since stopped sending me these files. Whatever, I guess I'll take your advice and chalk it up as an oddity. Thanks.

louishen · Apr 30, 2008

They are probably some sort of drive by downloads, that might infect and run on a PC.

I am not saying that you are visiting bad sites tho, hackers have been known to hack legit sites and insert malware code into otherwise trustworthy sites.

MikeIsGood · Apr 30, 2008

I really visit the same sites everyday, and I determined that I've visited the same sites today that I did in the past two (sports, blogs, forums, email, and music) and it hasn't happened. So if it was what you're suggesting, it has apparently been taken care of by the administrator of said site(s).

Glad it couldn't do anything to my mac