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  3. CIS MacOS Safari V2.0.0 L1
  4. (L1) Ensure ‘Open ‘safe’ files after downloading’ is ‘Disabled’

(L1) Ensure ‘Open ‘safe’ files after downloading’ is ‘Disabled’

Details

The Safari browser contains a feature which causes all files considered ‘safe’ to be automatically opened once they have finished downloading.

Rationale:

This feature is meant to be a benefit but having the browser automatically open files that could be malicious and downloaded by mistake is a security risk.

Solution

Follow the below steps to set Open ‘safe’ files after downloading to Disabled:

1. Click Safari.
2. Click Preferences.
3. Click General.
4. Uncheck the Open ‘safe’ files after downloading checkbox.

To configure the plist follow the below steps:

1. Open the com.apple.Safari.plist.
2. Find the token AutoOpenSafeDownloads
3. Ensure this token is immediately followed by

Default Value:
Enabled.

Supportive Information

The following resource is also helpful.

This security hardening control applies to the following category of controls within NIST 800-53: System and Communications Protection.This control applies to the following type of system Unix.

References

Source

Updated on July 16, 2022
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