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Groups > alt.folklore.computers > #235369

Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator

From John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com>
Newsgroups alt.folklore.computers, alt.english.usage, alt.usage.english, alt.paranormal.spells.hexes.magic, alt.chinese.fengshui, alt.magick
Subject Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator
Date 2026-08-25 09:35 -0700
Organization A place where nothing fits quite right
Message-ID <20260825093541.00002c42@gmail.com> (permalink)
References <v8p8g6$ai44$1@dont-email.me> <116hu7n$32c3b$2@toylet.eternal-september.org> <%X0jS.2$XsQ3.0@fx01.ams4> <116j56b$3eghm$1@toylet.eternal-september.org> <116kcln$1s91$1@gal.iecc.com>

Cross-posted to 6 groups.

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On Tue, 25 Aug 2026 15:34:15 -0000 (UTC)
John Levine <johnl@taugh.com> wrote:

> Microsoft famously got this wrong, by looking at the contents of the
> file to decide how to process it instead of the name, so you can have
> a mail attachment called CONTRACT.TXT which is in fact an executable
> full of malware.

That's actually not how that works at all. Windows *does* in fact rely
on the filename extension to determine the file type, but starting in
Windows 95 they set it to hide the extension for known file types by
default, presumably because extensions were too confusing for novice
users. But the extension is still there and still counts for the OS's
purposes, even though it's not displayed - so what malevolent parties
will do is name a file e.g. InnocentDocument.txt.exe in the knowledge
that this will display to the majority of users (and especially the
novice ones) as InnocentDocument.txt even though it's actually an EXE
and recognized as such by Windows.

Real genius decision, that :/

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Thread

Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator anthk@not.dev.null - 2026-08-17 23:57 +0200
  Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator John Levine <johnl@taugh.com> - 2026-08-18 00:07 +0000
    Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator Bob Eager <throwaway0008@eager.cx> - 2026-08-18 11:51 +0000
      Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator Rich Alderson <news@alderson.users.panix.com> - 2026-08-18 22:15 -0400
    Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator Rich Alderson <news@alderson.users.panix.com> - 2026-08-18 22:13 -0400
  Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-08-23 07:32 +0000
    Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator Peter Flass <Peter@Iron-Spring.com> - 2026-08-23 07:40 -0700
      Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-08-23 22:07 +0000
        Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-08-24 07:27 +0800
          Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator vallor <vallor@vallor.earth> - 2026-08-24 01:31 +0000
            Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator Chris Ahlstrom <OFeem1987@teleworm.us> - 2026-08-25 15:02 -0400
    Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator Rich Alderson <news@alderson.users.panix.com> - 2026-08-23 23:36 -0400
  Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator "Mr. Chang Man-wai" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-08-23 23:13 +0800
    Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator Lars Poulsen <lars@beagle-ears.com> - 2026-08-23 11:20 -0700
      Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-08-23 22:11 +0000
        Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-08-24 07:28 +0800
        Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator Rich Alderson <news@alderson.users.panix.com> - 2026-08-23 23:39 -0400
      Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator "Mr. Chang Man-wai" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-08-25 01:15 +0800
        Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-08-25 03:28 +0800
          Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator "Mr. Chang Man-wai" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-08-25 12:20 +0800
            Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator John Levine <johnl@taugh.com> - 2026-08-25 15:34 +0000
              Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-08-25 09:35 -0700
                Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-08-25 17:00 +0000
                Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator "Mr. Chang Man-wai" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-08-28 20:07 +0800
                Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-08-29 16:59 +0800
                Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator "Mr. Chang Man-wai" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-08-30 04:13 +0800
              Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator Snidely <snidely.too@gmail.com> - 2026-08-25 11:22 -0700
                Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-08-25 21:43 +0000
                Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-08-26 15:34 +0000
                Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-08-29 17:08 +0800
              Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator "Mr. Chang Man-wai" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-08-28 20:12 +0800
                Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator John Levine <johnl@taugh.com> - 2026-08-28 18:14 +0000
                Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator Rich Alderson <news@alderson.users.panix.com> - 2026-08-28 21:02 -0400
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? "Mr. Chang Man-wai" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-08-29 10:15 +0800
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? "Mr. Chang Man-wai" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-08-29 11:55 +0800
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-08-29 17:38 +0800
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? "Mr. Chang Man-wai" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-08-30 04:09 +0800
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? Rich Alderson <news@alderson.users.panix.com> - 2026-08-29 18:31 -0400
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-08-30 11:33 +0800
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-08-31 09:34 -0700
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? "Mr. Chang Man-wai" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-09-02 22:59 +0800
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-09-02 08:29 -0700
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? Peter Flass <Peter@Iron-Spring.com> - 2026-09-02 12:36 -0700
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-09-02 13:00 -0700
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... Babylon cuneiforms etched on bread? Exorcism? "Mr. Chang Man-wai" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-09-04 12:24 +0800
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-02 21:55 +0000
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? James Dow Allen <user4353@newsgrouper.org.invalid> - 2026-09-03 04:44 +0000
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-03 04:57 +0000
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? James Dow Allen <user4353@newsgrouper.org.invalid> - 2026-09-03 05:29 +0000
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-03 06:57 +0000
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? James Dow Allen <user4353@newsgrouper.org.invalid> - 2026-09-03 10:06 +0000
                The Amarna Letters, Hebrew -- wait, which brew? (was: Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday?) Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-09-03 18:29 +0800
                Re: The Amarna Letters, Hebrew -- wait, which brew? (was: Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday?) John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-09-03 08:02 -0700
                Re: The Amarna Letters, Hebrew -- wait, which brew? (was: Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday?) athel.cb@gmail.com <user12588@newsgrouper.org.invalid> - 2026-09-03 15:49 +0000
                Re: The Amarna Letters, Hebrew -- wait, which brew? (was: Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday?) Tony Cooper <tonycooper214@gmail.com> - 2026-09-03 14:08 -0400
                Re: The Amarna Letters, Hebrew -- wait, which brew? (was: Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday?) John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-09-03 11:34 -0700
                Re: The Amarna Letters, Hebrew -- wait, which brew? (was: Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday?) Tony Cooper <tonycooper214@gmail.com> - 2026-09-03 18:01 -0400
                Re: The Amarna Letters, Hebrew -- wait, which brew? Peter Flass <Peter@Iron-Spring.com> - 2026-09-03 15:26 -0700
                Re: The Amarna Letters, Hebrew -- wait, which brew? (was: Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday?) Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-09-04 04:51 +0200
                Re: The Amarna Letters, Hebrew -- wait, which brew? (was: Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday?) James Dow Allen <user4353@newsgrouper.org.invalid> - 2026-09-04 04:27 +0000
                Re: The Amarna Letters, Hebrew -- wait, which brew? Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-09-04 12:52 +0800
                Re: The Amarna Letters, Hebrew -- wait, which brew? John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-09-04 08:15 -0700
                Re: The Amarna Letters, Hebrew -- wait, which brew? (was: Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday?) Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-09-05 06:05 +0200
                Re: The Amarna Letters, Hebrew -- wait, which brew? (was: Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday?) James Dow Allen <user4353@newsgrouper.org.invalid> - 2026-09-05 09:13 +0000
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-05 21:09 +0000
                Re: The Amarna Letters, Hebrew -- wait, which brew? Malcolm Purvis <malcolm@purvis.id.au> - 2026-09-04 06:49 +1000
                Re: The Amarna Letters, Hebrew -- wait, which brew? Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-03 21:27 +0000
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? Peter Flass <Peter@Iron-Spring.com> - 2026-09-03 08:28 -0700
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? Rich Alderson <news@alderson.users.panix.com> - 2026-09-02 15:37 -0400
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-08-29 05:25 +0000
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? "Mr. Chang Man-wai" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-08-29 13:35 +0800
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-08-29 17:35 +0000
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? Chris Ahlstrom <OFeem1987@teleworm.us> - 2026-08-29 15:42 -0400
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-08-29 21:07 +0000
                Re: Origin Of .... "say what?" "Mr. Chang Man-wai" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-08-30 18:00 +0800
                Re: Origin Of Filename ... text and civilization? doomsday? "Mr. Chang Man-wai" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-08-30 04:17 +0800
                Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator Charles Hope <clh@candehope.me.uk> - 2026-08-29 09:45 +0000
                Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-08-29 17:14 +0800
                Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator "Mr. Chang Man-wai" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-08-30 03:52 +0800
                Re: Origin Of ..... Darklands the video game? Medieval Europe? "Mr. Chang Man-wai" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-08-30 04:24 +0800
                Re: Origin Of ..... Darklands & the Holy Roman Empire? 15th century?? "Mr. Chang Man-wai" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-08-30 16:47 +0800
                Re: Origin Of ..... Darklands the video game? Medieval Europe? Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-08-31 17:08 +0800
                Re: Origin Of ..... Darklands the video game? Medieval Europe? "Kerr-Mudd, John" <admin@127.0.0.1> - 2026-08-31 16:40 +0100
                Re: Origin Of ..... Darklands the video game? Medieval Europe? Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-09-03 00:06 +0800
                Re: Origin Of ..... Darklands the video game? Medieval Europe? "Mr. Chang Man-wai" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-09-02 23:02 +0800
             Tops-10 filename/extension representation [was Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator] Rich Alderson <news@alderson.users.panix.com> - 2026-08-25 16:15 -0400
              Re: Tops-10 filename/extension representation [was Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator] Kragen Javier Sitaker <kragen@canonical.org> - 2026-09-05 10:14 -0300
                Re: Tops-10 filename/extension representation [was Re: Origin Of Filename Extension Dot Separator] Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-05 21:11 +0000

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