# Can a website steal files from my computer?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-website-steal-files-from-my-computer/285492>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 19, 2005, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-website-steal-files-from-my-computer/285492 "2005-01-19T03:40:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DaveRaver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daveraver/32/1078_2.png) [@DaveRaver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveRaver)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-website-steal-files-from-my-computer/285492/1 "2005-01-19T03:40:00Z")

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Is there any way a website could automatically steal files from my computer, just by my visiting their site?

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**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-website-steal-files-from-my-computer/285492/2 "2005-01-19T04:08:00Z")

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Yes and no.

“Yes” in the sense that an unpatched computer is vulnerable; “definately yes” if the user is one of those people that clicks “Yes” when prompted to install any random program or ActiveX control that pops-up on your screen.

“No” in the sense that most intelligent users don’t click “Yes” to install random software and also patch their machines as those patches become available, or they use a browser like Firefox that - while not 100% secure - is not the target of as many malware rojan\virus exploits as IE. Although this _probably_ won’t last as more and more people start using Firefox.

In a sense, it’s like phishing. Only stupid people (or novice users) click on the links in emails from “eBay” or “Citibank”. The rest of us know better.