Content Type Handler Applications

Windows Security Tutorials - Herong's Tutorial Examples

∟Content Type Handler Applications

This section provides a tutorial example on how to review and modify Content Type handling actions and handler applications in Firefox.

The next Firefox option area to review and modify is how Firefox handles different types of documents on the Internet. For each type, Firefox offers several action options like:

"Always ask" - Firefox will ask you what do with the document. This is the safest action option.
"Save File" - Firefox will try to save the document to your local computer. This option is also safe.
"Preview in Firefox" - Firefox will preview the document by itself. This option is also safe.
"Use (add-on) in Firefox" - Firefox will use an add-on program to handle the document in Firefox. This option is not safe, unless the add-on program is a trusted one.
"Use (external program)" - Firefox will use an external program to handle the document. This option is not safe, unless the external program is a trusted one.

1. Run Firefox and click "Tools > Options" menu. Then click the "Applications" tab.

2. Review and change actions associated different types of documents as suggested below:

Applications                          Action
------------                          ------
Adobe Acrobat Document                Use Adobe Reader
Adobe Acrobat Forms Document          Always ask
Adobe Acrobat Forms Document          Always ask
Adobe Acrobat XML Data Package File   Always ask
AU Format Sound                       Use Windows Media Player
conf                                  Always ask
E-mail Message                        Always ask
Executable Jar File                   Always ask
irc                                   Always ask
ircs                                  Always ask
JPEG Image (image/ipeg)               Use Windows Photo Viewer
...

Remember to set action to "Always ask", if you don't have a trusted application to handle the content type. You can decide what to do when Firefox prompts you.