Possible Safari 4.0.3 issue

They are not on the Desktop, despite that being the usual target of downloads. Look in both your own User folder (Home) and also in the root level folder where all Users are listed.

Ernie

Probably, as you have stated ad nauseam in reply to others to remedy the issue (aside from also downloading something somewhere), is because that you have JavaScript disabled, which of course will not allow the JavaScript of the widget to function in the first place, whilst the rest of us, most likely, do have Java, and JavaScript enabled in our preferences.

Yes, I checked both those in addition to the Desktop and there are no extra files or folders anywhere.

That is correct, Safari is set to take downloads to the Desktop. These are instead going to root users and my user folder.

Yeah, that is what stumped me after the first occurrence, the downloads being labeled as 'Desktop', but nothing appearing my desktop... and wasn't until I did a search in Finder, did I then locate them where you have also.

No, my JavaScript is enabled, but I do block ads using the Hosts file, so that could be the difference. Either way, I still have no unwanted downloads on my system.

I have Java enabled, and block pop ups enabled. I could try enabling Pith Helmet and see if it stops it..... Nope.

That might be the difference, but these are not ads in any traditional sense. As I understand the intent of the Widget, it should go unnoticed by the user of the site where implemented -- it is to inform the creator of a site or blog about the quality of hits, or something like that.

Ernie

Well, that's curious Golden Shoes... how/where do you have that set up - "block ads using the Hosts file"? Is that something separate from having the "Block Pop-Up Windows" enabled?

The Hosts file is in the /etc directory, a hidden directory that you can access from the Finder's Go>Go to Folder… menu. You can edit it and add or subtract domains using a standard text editor.

It's completely seperate from blocking pop-up windows.

you say it's a java issue, but curiously it started happening immediately after the safari 4.0.3 update. it happens on varioius websites (golf.com, etc....). it just keeps downloading what looks like an empty file named Desktop 1-1, 1-2, etc...

regardless, i would expect apple to fix this in a future update since this has never happened before, so obviously it's being caused by a change in the software.

it's not happening in any other browser or in previous versions of safari, just right after the update.

Same issue happening to me, except I didn't notice what exactly it was downloading and where it was going at first because I have safari set to clear completed downloads from the list. Since its such a small download the listing disappears before the DL window even appears. This leads me to believe that some others may be having these problems and thinking that nothing is being downloaded since it does not appear on the desktop. This has happened quite a few times on several sites and all the empty folders (saved to the HOME folder) are linked back to "Outbrain".

Since not everyone seems to be having this problem it may be linked to the OS (I'm running Tiger) OR to a third party plug-in like Onyx.

I understand what *Golden Shoes* is saying, but disabling Java is like cutting off your foot because of an ingrown toenail. While this may not necessarily be a bug with Safari, what is clear is that it started with 4.0.3. Apple should at least investigate and let us know what the problem may be.

@Mac442: To clarify some things for you, Onyx is not a third-party plugin; it's a completely separate program that only runs when you tell it to, so it cannot be the cause of something it has no interaction with. Also, disabling Java is not what I've ever suggested. I did suggest disabling JavaScript, which is entirely different. It is also advisable to disable Java, since relatively few sites use Java at all, so there's no reason to have it running if you don't need it; it tends to make Safari unstable and crash.

At the same time, I'm not having this problem, so I don't think anyone can say definitively that it's a "bug" in Safari 4.03 on Tiger, Leopard, or both. We just don't have enough information to draw a conclusion yet. If you think it's a bug, report it to Apple.

Thanks for the clarification Golden Shoes. I did not realize that Java was not the same as JavaScript. Also, now that I think about it I should not have used Onyx as an example, I was just referring in general to other software that may affect Safari.
Otherwise, I have noticed that since upgrading to Safari 4 (not just 4.0.3) it seems to crash alot more and alot of the time crash reporting is not triggered, as if it does not realized that it crashed. I will be watching it more closely and reporting the issues to Apple. Per your advice, I will try disabling Javascript to see if it makes any difference in crashing and also to see how much it would effect my browsing experience.