An Error Message Lives Up To Its Name

I've written before about my love for the late, very much lamented Interface Hall of Shame.

Brian Hayes would have loved this one.


I got the above message by highlighting several files in the Windows Vista Explorer and right-clicking on them. That's right, this is a message that Windows displayed warning me about its own option menu! Note that the title is "Internet Explorer". The message was actually produced by Windows Explorer, not Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer wasn't even running!

Leave aside that the message was produced in the wrong situation by the wrong program. What good is a message that talks about "unspecified potential security risk"? This message is for the end-user, who on average knows nothing about computer security. What good does this message do for him or her? Are we supposed to call Microsoft each time it appears? What sub-room-temperature IQ thought this would be helpful to anyone?