Re: Running program files on XP with non-executable extension?

From: Roger Wilco (yesman_at_yourservice.invalid)
Date: 11/22/05 

Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2005 20:36:54 -0500

"Solly" <solly@by.co.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.1dec0bfc778e4c399897c6@news-text.blueyonder.co.uk...
>
>
> Windows 98 SE
> Word 2000
>
> Will start up word and load a document regardless of file
> extension.
>
> Renaming it to book.xyz still opens it.
>
> What this shows ia the parser must be looking not just
> at the file name but inside the file content.

Could be that to support OLE the OS must have this ability - they should
have unregistered extensions (and no extension) default to give the
"open with" dialog box instead of just invoking Word based on the file.
You can still edit the registry to do this, but I don't know the
particulars of how to do so.

> just one more reason not to trust any microsoft software.

To me, the whole idea of association by extension is wrong. Associations
really should be by actual filetype (what you are complaining about) and
the associations by extension kept to a minimum.

> I wonder what other applications do this.

You could experiment with other OLE(2?) enabled applications..

> If you cant tell how your software behaves you can never
> have a secure system no matter what you do with fire walls.

Absolutely, and installing and running additional software on the
machine is not the right approach to increasing security.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Running program files on XP with non-executable extension?
    ... >> Will start up word and load a document regardless of file ... >> Renaming it to book.xyz still opens it. ... > have unregistered extensions default to give the ... > the associations by extension kept to a minimum. ...
    (comp.security.misc)
  • Re: Running program files on XP with non-executable extension?
    ... >> Will start up word and load a document regardless of file ... >> Renaming it to book.xyz still opens it. ... > have unregistered extensions default to give the ... > the associations by extension kept to a minimum. ...
    (alt.computer.security)
  • Re: Determining MS Office docs
    ... >>> Prasad ... >> monopolistic that the Windows operating systems should prescribe one ... >> and only one application to a given extension. ... >> user to generate multiple associations? ...
    (comp.programming)
  • Re: Determining MS Office docs
    ... Hi David, ... Prasad ... > and only one application to a given extension. ... > user to generate multiple associations? ...
    (comp.programming)
  • Re: Running program files on XP with non-executable extension?
    ... > Renaming it to book.xyz still opens it. ... have unregistered extensions default to give the ... the associations by extension kept to a minimum. ...
    (alt.computer.security)