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PLEASE make it easier to disable automatic decoding! (5 posts)

  • Started 17 years ago by monoclast
  • Latest reply 16 years ago from Scott McGuire
  • monoclast Member

    I'd like to request that there be a way to turn automatic decoding for all file types on or off. I find it such a pain to have to do turn it off for each file type, each time I install Fetch:

    1. Find all of the types of files on an FTP server I want to change this setting for (some of which may not exist on the server - this in itself is a pain).
    2. Get Info on each of those files.
    3. Turn "Automatic Decode" off.

    So laborious!

    In fact I really question whether this feature should be on by default to begin with. If I download whatever.tar.gz I do truly expect to find whatever.tar.gz on my desktop. I do not expect it to already be expanded, a folder or something else that may not be named the same to be there, and for the original file to be deleted from my desktop.

    So I'd like to make a second request that you make the default OFF for this feature as well.

    Posted 17 years ago #

  • Scott McGuire Administrator

    Hi,

    As I said in another thread, we have not forgotten about the request for this feature, and I apologize that we have not gotten to it yet.

    Best,

    Scott McGuire
    Fetch Softworks

    Posted 17 years ago #

  • monoclast Member

    I apologise for double posting, and for bugging you about it. I do it only because I truly believe this is an important problem that needs to be addressed.

    The main reason I brought this up again is because automatic decoding bites me every now and then (just happened the other day) because I happen to download a file type I haven't downloaded before. Since Fetch's default behavior is to automatically decode all file types, this is a recurring problem for me, which is irritating.

    Its irritating because the file you download is the file you expect to see when the download is complete. If Fetch decodes the file and deletes the original and you don't realize what has happened, it causes you to go on a hunt for the original file name. Note that it's quite possible for a given ZIP, SIT, etc archive to contain an item with a completely different name than the archive file name.

    The other thing that concerns me is we are all painfully aware of the many security holes created by Safari's "Open safe files after downloading" functionality. Apple releases continual Safari updates to patch holes in it. And most people will agree, it's best to simply turn that function off in Safari to be safe. Fetch's automatic decoding feature is analogous. I am truly concerned about the security implications of Fetch's automatic decoding feature.

    I really feel because of these reasons there should be a way to turn this feature off, and it should be turned off by default.

    I apologize if I am being a pest about this. I am a paid customer, though, and I think Fetch is one of the best FTP clients available for Mac OS X, so I want to see it be the best it can be!

    Posted 17 years ago #

  • Scott McGuire Administrator

    Hi,

    No need to apologize. We do like to hear from our customers, even the ones with strong opinions. :)

    Your point about potential security hazards is interesting, although Fetch never attempts to execute a downloaded file. It only attempts to decode it using the StuffIt engine - unlike the Safari option, which uses the OS to open and interact with files that it downloads. So we feel the changes of any attack happening are remote. Nevertheless, something for us to consider.

    And yes, we realize that extracted files could have completely different names than the archive.

    As I said, we haven't forgotten this request, and while I can't promise when it might get addressed, your postings did prompt us to discuss the issue again yesterday in regards to improvements for the future.

    Thanks,

    Scott McGuire
    Fetch Softworks

    Posted 17 years ago #

  • Scott McGuire Administrator

    Hi,

    Fetch 5.3 includes a preference to disable all automatic decoding.

    It can be found by going to the Fetch menu, choosing Preferences, and clicking the Download tab. Uncheck or check the "Allow automatic decoding of downloaded files" checkbox.

    Unchecking it will turn off all decoding.

    Fetch 5.3 is a free update for Fetch 5 users. You can download Fetch 5.3 from our home page - http://fetchsoftworks.com - or by choosing "Check for Update" from the Fetch menu in the Fetch application.

    Thanks,

    Scott McGuire
    Fetch Softworks

    [This message has been edited by ScottMcGuire (edited 11-13-2007).]

    Posted 16 years ago #

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