Windows Vista - Explorer - Show File Extensions

SUMMARY: Prevent Windows Vista from hiding file extensions in Explorer, a possible security risk.

Depending on your configuration, Windows Vista may hide the file extensions of known file types in Explorer views. The reason for this is to "clean up" the display of files, as often the file icon signifies the type of file anyway.

Unfortunately, this configuration is a potential security risk. For example, it is possible that a filename that looks like it ends with ".txt", or a filename with an icon that looks like a notepad icon, actually has a hidden OTHER extension. If you double-click what you think is a simple text file, you may actually run malware instead!

For example, look at the screenshot to the right. It looks harmless enough - a text file you may have received via an e-mail message labeled "Celebrity Picture URLs.txt" - containing what you think are links to photos of celebrities such as Angelina Jolie. The icon is of a notepad, so this definitely is a text file, right?

Now look at the below screenshot to see what happens if you scroll through the Explorer window and look at the file details:

The "Celebrity Picture URLs.txt" is actually an Application??? Who knows what might happen if you click on that file!

And what if the file was downloaded to your Desktop? You might never have seen the word "Application". But if the filename was fully displayed, "Celebrity Picture URLs.txt.exe", you might notice that. So make this configuration change for safety's sake:

1. Do one of the following:

* Click on the "Organize" button in an Explorer folder, and then choose "Folder and Search Options".

* Open a folder in Explorer. Press the ALT key to temporarily show the menu, and then select "Tools" - "Folder Options".

* Click the Windows/Start button, type "folder options", and press ENTER.

2. When the "Folder Options" multi-tabbed dialog box appears, click the "View" tab.

3. Uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types".

4. Click "OK" to close the dialog box.