How to: Protect against potentially dangerous file types in Windows


Instructions

First, configure Windows to show file name extensions. Now, when you view files, the extension will always be shown.

Below is a list of known potentially dangerous file types/extensions. These types of files are not always dangerous and are in many cases valid files. However, it is also common for malicious and damaging software to be contained in these types of files and they should be opened with caution. If you do not know where a file came from or if it did not come from a trusted source, do not open it.

ExtensionDescription
ADEMicrosoft Access Project Extension
ADPMicrosoft Access Project
BASVisual Basic Class Module
BATBatch File
CHMCompiled HTML Help File
CMDWindows NT Command Script
COMMS-DOS Application
CPLControl Panel Extension
CRTSecurity Certificate
EXEApplication
HLPWindows Help File
HTAHTML Applications
INFSetup Information File
INSInternet Communication Settings
ISPInternet Communication Settings
JSJScript File
JSEJScript Encoded Script File
LNKShortcut
MDBMicrosoft Access Application
MDEMicrosoft Access MDE Database
MSCMicrosoft Common Console Document
MSIWindows Installer Package
MSPWindows Installer Patch
MSTVisual Test Source File
PCDPhoto CD Image
PIFShortcut to MS-DOS Program
REGRegistration Entries
SCRScreen Saver
SCTWindows Script Component
SHSShell Scrap Object
URLInternet Shortcut (Uniform Resource Locator)
VBVBScript File
VBEVBScript Encoded Script File
VBSVBScript Script File
WSCWindows Script Component
WSFWindows Script File
WSHWindows Scripting Host Settings File