Windows 10 displays warning pop-up when opening URL files from Favorites

Many Windows 10 users have complained about a strange browser behavior: when they try to open URL files saved in the “Favorites” folder, a warning pop-up appears, informing them about a potential security risk.

Users report this warning message appeared after they installed the Patch Tuesday updates. It appears that the culprit is KB3185319 as users also confirmed the warning pop-up disappeared after uninstalling the update.

Apparently, common troubleshooting actions such as disabling security warnings or using the browser‘s security tab do not help in this situation.

This issue is not specific for a particular browser, as all browsers are affected, although KB3185319 was released only for Internet Explorer. Moreover, it appears this bug affects Windows 7 and 8.1 as well.

When I open a folder or file-window and click to “Favorites” folder, then double click to open a .url file I get a windows warning popup “File Download – security warning”, “Do you want to open this file?”. […]
I get this warning with all the internet links or .url files I saved in the entire “Favorites” folder.  This happens every time I open any .url file in the “Favorites” folder.  This does not happen to .url files saved in other folders ( non-favorites folders).  I also get this popup warning when I move a .url file from one sub-folder to another sub-folder in the “Favorites” folder.

Fix: warning pop-up appears when opening URL files

Fortunately, one user has come up with a quick workaround for this issue. The fix works only for the current items saved in the “Favorites” folder. The workaround has to be repeated whenever a new favorite item is added.

1. Type cmd in the search box and launch Command Prompt
2. Type the following commands, substituting in the appropriate path to your “Favorites” folder for the first command.

PUSHD C:Usersuser_nameFavorites
ICACLS *.URL /L /T /SETINTEGRITYLEVEL MED

3. Hit Enter and that should fix the bug.

Have you encountered this issue after installing the latest Patch Tuesday updates? Tell us in the comment section below if this workaround fixed the problem for you.

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