Safari randomly downloading files when visiting pages

Question

Safari randomly downloading files when visiting pages

I'm having a very weird issue where pages I visit will randomly trigger small file downloads from Safari (version 8.0.5) to my downloads folder.

The files are all very small, about 40-50 bytes. They have random names like:

tr-2
gif
img;p=11042207125170;cache=
blank.gif

I can't tell if this is an issue with Safari trying to save items to its cache or something possibly with a plugin or Extension. I've turned off all Extensions and it still happens.

Separately, I'm not holding the option key and clicking on any links or anything like that.

Any idea?

Mac Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), Mac Pro 2008

Posted on Apr 17, 2015 1:26 PM

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Answer 1

dominic23

Level 10

83,904 points

Apr 17, 2015 1:34 PM in response to Thomas Iwaniec

1. Force Quit .

Press command + option + esc keys together at the same time. Wait.

When Force Quit window appears, select Safari if not already.

Press Force Quit button at the bottom of the window. Wait.

Safari will quit.

2. Relaunch Safari holding the shift key down.

3. Turn off wifi and turn it back on.

Turn off Wifi. Click Wifi icon in the menu bar and select “Turn Wifi off”.

Visit another website.

You won’t have internet connection.

Turn on Wifi. Click Wifi icon in the menu bar and select “Turn Wifi on”.

Select your Network.

4. Safari > Preferences > Security > Privacy

Cookies and website data:

Click “Details” button.

Remove all cookies except ones from Apple, your ISP and banks.

If this doesn't help,

can you run EtreCheck and post the report here please?

EtreCheck: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6173

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Answer 2

Apr 21, 2015 11:38 AM in response to dominic23

Thanks for the help, that didn't seem to change anything.

However, disabling Javascript in Safari seems to temporarily prevent the issue. Obviously I can't really go without JS. Is there some way to change/modify/set the cache/download folder for Javascript? Or should I be worried that something is messing with my JS in Safari and this could be something worse than that?

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Answer 3

X-caiver

Level 1

8 points

May 24, 2015 4:50 PM in response to Thomas Iwaniec

Did you ever figure this out?

I have the same problem, and it has been going on for weeks now. The files that are getting downloaded aren't just .js files, I get lots of broken .gif and .jpg thumbnails too.

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Answer 4

May 27, 2015 1:08 PM in response to X-caiver

Still happening here and haven't found a solution. I've used AdBlock to disable ads in Safari which is a bandaid. Anything that uses WebKit (Reeder, for example) will trigger the downloads, as will anything that isn't blocked by AdBlock.

Tried removing all plug ins/extensions/etc and nothing seems to have any effect.

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Answer 5

Jun 30, 2015 1:55 PM in response to Thomas Iwaniec

Don't want to jinx it, but it looks like updating to 10.10.4 solved the issue.

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Answer 6

Jul 4, 2015 5:26 PM in response to Thomas Iwaniec

Never mind. It's still happening in 10.10.4.

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Answer 7

Nov 14, 2015 12:17 AM in response to Thomas Iwaniec

Have you found a solution? I have the same problem

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Answer 8

Jun 19, 2016 3:21 PM in response to Nicola Christine

Had a similar problem. Upon visiting a site it would automatically download a bunch of random files. I don't think its a Safari issue but rather poor security on the site. I use the more advance uBlock plugin with Safari. I toggled the settings in uBlock for that site until I found the culprit of the downloads. Turns out is was some malicious 3rd party scripts being ran by some ads in an embedded 3rd party iFrame on the website. The main website probably may not even have been aware this was happening. Never the less I blocked all 3rd party scripts and iFrames with uBlock for the site and problem solved.

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