Re: A Very Dangerous Worm in Windows Metafile Images (WMF)

John Larkin <jjlarkin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>
> One of Bill's declared tenents of "trusted computing" was "safe by
> default." Why does Windows default to executing .jpg files as
> wmf's?

I think Windows XP opens JPG files in Windows Picture and Fax
Viewer. The usefulness of that cannot be overemphasized IMO since
all you have to do is right arrow or left arrow through the entire
number of still pictures in any folder. The old way of switching
back to the folder to open the next file was for the birds. With the
press of an arrow key, the viewer continues with the next picture
file, JPG GIF BMP whatever.

>
> Irfanview checks and warns me if the extension doesn't match the
> header; Windows doesn't.

I think Windows XP does. Or you might at least get a warning that
you're about to run a program. You do for files with a proper EXE
extension, so I cannot imagine otherwise.

>
> 200 million lines of crap.

Yes, but Windows XP is a much more stable and roomy landfill for
your applications to live on.

Have fun you all.





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