Security Zone Policy Errors in Firefox 3

Here is an interesting update that seems to be drawing a little heat from the Web at large. Depending on your Internet settings (from Control Panel > Internet Options) you might have issues with some downloads being blocked.

Fx3exeBlocked

Here is what Mozilla has to say about the issue.

Starting in Firefox 3, downloads of executable files (e.g., .exe or .msi) may fail and the Firefox Downloads window will contain this message, under the filename: This download has been blocked by your Security Zone Policy.
This issue occurs because Firefox 3 now honors your Windows security settings for downloading applications and other potentially unsafe files from the Internet.

The rage here is that the Internet Options you see from the Control Panel links back to Internet Explorer 7. So in a round about wacky way, Firefox 3 follows IE7’s security settings. Need a fix?

To change the setting, open Internet Options (via Control Panel or from Internet Explorer -> Tools) and click the Security tab. With the Internet zone icon highlighted, click the Custom level… button. A list of security settings for the Internet zone will appear. Find the “Launching applications and unsafe files” setting (under Miscellaneous) and select “Prompt (recommended)”.

If that does not do the trick for you, there are a few more fix suggestions on Mozillazine.org you can try. So are you upset about this or could you care less?

For more help, check these out...

Tags: errors, Firefox-3, IE7, options, Security, zone, zones

Posted on July 23, 2008 in Security

Comments and Feedback

Nipun Mahajan said on July 23, 2008 (permalink)

Whatever, doesn’t make a difference to me.

Firefox Mastery » This download has been blocked by your Security Zone Policy said on July 23, 2008 (permalink)

[...] to Internet Explorer 7 to have the option and make use of it according to a Mozillazine (via Firefox Facts) article about blocked downloads in Firefox. Posted under: Firefox, [...]

BAD IDEA! said on July 25, 2008 (permalink)

This is a bad idea!

I only use Internet Explorer on rare occasions when a site or service does not support Firefox.

I like to have the security settings at High for these times - I don’t trust IE at all.

Now it appears that I need to juggle the settings just to use Firefox? BAD IDEA!

If you must - please put an equivalient set of settings in FIREFOX3 - but don’t use Internet Explorers…..

h. said on July 26, 2008 (permalink)

thank god for Macs.

What is Firefox? said on July 28, 2008 (permalink)

> I only use Internet Explorer on
> rare occasions when a site or
> service does not support Firefox.

You should be rather cautious of sites that require you to use an insecure browser. In other words, find replacement websites.

I think it’s logical that Firefox would follow the OS’s security settings. The user set his preferences, the browser should obey that.

ASH said on July 30, 2008 (permalink)

ITS DRIVING ME INSANE. CHANGING THE IE OPTIONS DOES NOT HELP. I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP! I’M NOT ABLE TO DOWNLOAD ANYTHING~

Roger said on August 7, 2008 (permalink)

Hay you all I had this problem with a game site for downloads. I ended up opening IE and going into the restricted sites where I found the game site and removed it. Seems to work

Chris said on August 8, 2008 (permalink)

I feel you pain ASH. I am stuck with it too, regardless of the turning the setting on/off/prompt it wont let me download itunes (for example at the moment)

martin said on August 10, 2008 (permalink)

Really, really bad idea. I can’t get downloads to work from Firefox on Server 2003 and have to resort to using IE again.

If you’re going to do this (as someone said above) put the equivilent setting into Firefox.

Cheers

Argh said on August 14, 2008 (permalink)

Stupid.
I use IE7 to surf porn, with everything maxed out in terms of security, and firefox for everything else.
So….what, now I have to relax the IE7 to get my updates, downloads.
IE7 sucks, if this is the case, I’ll delete firefox and use the old one for piece of mind.

Argh said on August 14, 2008 (permalink)

Wow…I’ll be crap IE7 has some new features. Been using firefox for a couple of years.
Now that I had to go back and mess with IE to get my spybot updates, I’m deleting firefox.
c’ya -

Tampabayjon said on August 21, 2008 (permalink)

You have to reset IE 7.0 to default levels in both the privacy as well as security tab fields. Once you do that, you can now download programs in Firefox. Hope this works for everyone…

thornnnn said on September 9, 2008 (permalink)

wish firefox was stand alone.. i too use ie set on highest settings possible for untrusted sites.. and use firefox for cnn yahoo..

firefox should be configurable and seperate.. not stuck to ie

thornnnn said on September 9, 2008 (permalink)

where can i get an old version of firefox.. pre screwed up security settings?

Fredrik said on September 12, 2008 (permalink)

I use firefox on all win2003 servers I administrate, and the biggest reason is that I don’t want to edit zones becuse I need to download a file to a the server. I guess I have to stick with Firefox 2.0

Firefox is already much safer then IE, it does not need this setting.

Fredrik said on September 12, 2008 (permalink)

Btw have you ever tried downloading firefox on windows 2003 with the default security zones with the new firefox version or IE 7.

you must add 15-30 diffrent download sites before you the same mirror site so you can actually download the file.
Or
you could remove all the security settings from IE and make it really insecure for servers.

Quato said on September 17, 2008 (permalink)

That cause some Trojan, breaks Windows Defender PiPes, and want to change and write another pid, but it can’t do. Try to find with sfc /scannow, SFC can’t repair it you must do it manually. See the sfc log file!

I think better if you reinstall WinXP or Vista …

Red said on September 19, 2008 (permalink)

Pissing me off to no end…………..

Randy said on September 23, 2008 (permalink)

Ditto to this being a horrible idea. I put Firefox on my admin servers to get around IE security. If I have to use IE to set Firefox permissions and LOWER IE security, I might as well pull Firefox off of the server and just use insecure IE. I’m going back to Firefox 2.

richard said on September 30, 2008 (permalink)

I am sick of the security zone policy not allowing me to download anything, How can I get rid of FF3 and get FF2. I can’t even update to IE7 since i get that stupid message. Can anyone help me I have tried changing all my security settings. HELP ME ANYONE

CashCoach said on October 1, 2008 (permalink)

I’m with Richard…I’ve spent hours trying to figure out how to make the changes recommended…can’t download ie7 cause ff3 won’t let me, d/t this Security Zone, which is honoring settings that I can’t find when going through the steps as recommended…Incredibly frustrating.

richard said on October 6, 2008 (permalink)

has anyone been able to re-download FF2 to avoid the security message. are how can you get in contact with FireFox so I can get rid of my problem?

jaime said on October 14, 2008 (permalink)

Thanks, it was very helpful

Dafnie said on October 14, 2008 (permalink)

every one says to go check the internet options and then the security tab and then the internet zone. but there is a BIG problem……..i’m not have a zone called internet in the security tab, there is only one zone named My computer. What’s wrong wid my comp???? i feel like throwing it out of the window!!!!!!

richard said on October 14, 2008 (permalink)

if I delete FF3 from my PC, will I be able to download IE7? can anyone tell me if I can download are will that security message continue to block. So can re-download FF3 and update my security level. Does anyone have an a way to contact FF to get my issue resolve are if FF is working to resolve this issue. I am currently letting everyone know to stay away from FF due to this downloading issue. A VERY FRUSTRATED PC USER THAT ABOUT TO DESTROY HIS PC HELP!!!!!

rugel said on October 20, 2008 (permalink)

Same problem here with running a Win 2003 / 2008 so IE settings are set to “High” per default and lowering them just to run a different browser trying to tell it’s user: You’re now more secure, but hey - keep your OS insecure. Dunno if there’s any logic behind.
And if FF relies on IE settings at all - why use it ? Just to have another fancy GUI but the same problems in background ? Then maybe Opera might be the choice.
To download blocked files - a small download manager helps - Wget, FDM or other pieces of software.

Jari said on October 22, 2008 (permalink)

Removing the domain in question under Restricted sites solved the issue

richard said on October 22, 2008 (permalink)

what are saying by removing the domain in question please explain this

Windows on Amazon (Scripting News) said on October 23, 2008 (permalink)

[...] Next I want to do a speed test, to see how fast the Internet connection is. That requires that I install Flash. When I try to download it I get a security error. I didn’t know Firefox had anything like that. Not sure how to change that. Later… Turns out Firefox 3 respects security settings of Windows. Instructions are here. [...]

Ross said on October 27, 2008 (permalink)

I find it hard to express how much I hate this without resorting to Expletives!!!! This “feature” is flat-out horrible.

Nigel said on November 8, 2008 (permalink)

I just add “.bin” to the filename when prompted where to save the file, then rename the file after downloading.

I still hate that Firefox does this. There’s no way I’m enabling an IE option to “launch unsafe files”, even with prompting. There’s a difference between downloading and launching, and Firefox should know that if it’s going to look at IE’s options, which it shouldn’t IMHO.

Amy said on November 8, 2008 (permalink)

thank you so much!
this worked for me and ive been trying everything! :D

Mic said on November 11, 2008 (permalink)

People get away from Microsoft you kill your product when you even associate with it. i mean hot mail went too crap when they got involved

Paige said on November 12, 2008 (permalink)

Thanks a lot. THIS REALLY HELPED. I was getting very aggravated because I couldn’t download stuff when I could before. I get tired of IE and anything to do with microsoft basically because they make it so technical.
Thanks again.

Zeke Krahlin said on November 13, 2008 (permalink)

Firefox WAS my favorite browser of all time. The fact that you now must rely on the WORST browser in history to make FF work as it used to…just plain SUCKS.

I’m switching to Opera, good riddance Firefox, good riddance bullsh*t headaches and kissing Micro$oft’s bootie. Firefox, what were you thinking?

Arkai said on November 13, 2008 (permalink)

Although firefox is better than other browsers, but i dont think any other browsers have this bs function to not allow people to dl things that they want.

Zeke Krahlin said on November 13, 2008 (permalink)

{{ I just add “.bin” to the filename when prompted where to save the file, then rename the file after downloading. }}

You must know some trick that others don’t. Firefox 3 does NOT let you change the file name for download. Unlike Opera.

johnofphilly said on November 13, 2008 (permalink)

Zeke’s right. He experienced this with 98, I with XP.
I could rename it, but it was blocked anyway.

We placed our faith in Firefox to supercede the lousy IE browser, not sell out to it.

I’m shocked with and disappointed at Mozilla. They must be planning to go out of business.

johnofphilly said on November 13, 2008 (permalink)

Can I undo the “updates”? I turned off auto updates because they kept trying to shove the google toolbar down my throat. And if I hadn’t accepted the last Firefox “updates”, I’d still be able to download images.

Zeke Krahlin said on November 13, 2008 (permalink)

Everyone figured out what’s going on yet? I hate to state the obvious, but here goes:

Micro$oft has infiltrated the Firefox programming community, to prevent their competition from succeeding. No doubt the FF higher ups were rewarded w/hefty $$$$ in exchange for selling out.

Firefox’s most loyal users and supporters are/were alternative indymedia types, and hackers. THAT is certainly no longer true, or it won’t be true shortly…once word gets out.

ghostofgenova said on November 14, 2008 (permalink)

I've never had this problem then again I don't let M$ have anything to do with my security on my computer. I use my own firewall and anti-virus. *shrugs*

Zeke Krahlin said on November 14, 2008 (permalink)

{{ I've never had this problem then again I don't let M$ have anything to do with my security }}

Goody gumdrops for you, ghostofgenova! What this tells me is you're NOT running Firefox 3, else you WOULD have this problem, whether you like it or not. For Firefox has decided w/o asking your permission, to FORCE its users to let M$ have anything to do with your security.

News flash: as long as you run the Windoze operating system, you ARE allowing M$ to intrude upon your security…even IF you use your own firewall and anti-virus (as I do too).

You have a LOT to learn; I don't think you know very much about computers, let alone security issues. Else you wouldn't "shrug" like a little know-it-all who has the answer to this latest Firefox dilemma. I repeat: this Firefox dependency on security settings is NOT eliminated in any way, shape or form, simply because you run a non-M$ firewall and anit-virus.

And AFAIK, the proposed "solution" of changing the security settings in Windows does NOT work…at least, it won't for me, and for most others.

James Dashner Jr. said on November 15, 2008 (permalink)

Thank the gods for Linux!

Zeke Krahlin said on November 15, 2008 (permalink)

{{ Get a real life instead of talking out your a$$ about my knowledge of computers. }}

So what DO you know about computers? Not much, it would seem. Your "solution" was not only lame, it was an insult to the intelligence of knowledgeable and concerned PC users. You ceratinly don't grasp this Firefox problem, 'cause it has NOTHING to do with whether or not your use Micro$oft's own firewall and anti-virus. Really, you had no point to make, you shouldn't even had added your dipwad comment, it's useless and a waste of everyone's time. Again:

Goody gumdrops for you, that you use non-M$ security. I'm SO proud of you…now go out and play so Daddy can get some work done.

Zeke Krahlin said on November 15, 2008 (permalink)

More reports of Firefox problems pouring in:

firefox 3.0.3 very unstable
http://tinyurl.com/62qpnp

(Please ignore ghostofgenova's useless comment re. firewall and anti-virus. Neither is relevant to the matter at hand. Don't let a fool distract you.)

GhostOFGenova said on November 15, 2008 (permalink)

Ok whatever Zeke. Get a real life instead of talking out your a$$ about my knowledge of computers.

Zeke Krahlin said on November 15, 2008 (permalink)

Anything BUT contribute anything useful, eh? Guess that affirms my assumptions about your lack of PC anything.

Zeke Krahlin said on November 16, 2008 (permalink)

Version 3.0.4 is now available. Anyone brave or foolish enough to test it out?

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/3.0.4/releasenotes/#

Richard said on November 19, 2008 (permalink)

why is Mozilla not trying to fix this problem, it appears to me that they have left us out dry and have no intent to fixing this F— U- that has me pulling the little hair I have. All the solution that have been mention or suggested don't work. FF has to be seeing all of these complaints WHERE ARE YOU FIRE FOX ? FIX THIS PROBLEM YOU HAVE CAUSED WITH YOUR UPDATE

Samuel Middleton said on November 19, 2008 (permalink)

why don't you get a firewall first that puts security in place but allows you to download anything

Jim said on November 20, 2008 (permalink)

Thanks, Nigel, this worked for me. Windows wouldn't run the file renamed to .exe, but I went to its Properties and unlocked it. Worked fine.

John Sturrock said on November 20, 2008 (permalink)

Thanks, simple and effective instructions which worked, unlike Mozilla’s lack of help

kyle said on November 24, 2008 (permalink)

I have to re-download iertutil.dll for Internet Explorer to work, and because I’m missing it and IE won’t work, my computer is screwed.

Wonderful, isn’t it?

Zeke Krahlin said on November 25, 2008 (permalink)

Download from here:

http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/pop.php?iertutil

Hope that’s all the problem is for you! If IE still won’t work, you do have the option to update or download the latest version. If you don’t wanna do that, you’re screwed from using Firefox ever again. In which case:

http://www.opera.com/

Rob said on November 29, 2008 (permalink)

Ugh!! This doesn’t help because I don’t have “Launching applications and unsafe files” in my security tab. I can’t download firefox 3 to try to fix the problem, um because I can’t download ANYTHING!!!!!!!!

THIS SUCKS!

Rob said on November 29, 2008 (permalink)

Zeke, it’s ironic, that you have a fix up there, but to do it you have to download a file! You tease! that’s why we are here we can’t download anything, LOL. this still sucks

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