[Web4lib] Disabling mailto: links on webpages for public computers

[Kozlowski,Brendon]

The end-result solution gathered from feedback (tested successfully on our end) was to modify a registry entry for Internet Explorer. Firefox (and if installed, Opera) can be configured via their about:config pages, respectively.

Please note, modifying the registry *can* cause some issues as noted in the URL below. Make sure to test this:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/MailtoProtocol.htm

IE (all versions):
HKLM\Software\Classes\mailto\shell\open\command and set it to an empty value
Note: This causes IE to display a "misconfiguration" error. We've instead set it to "cmd /c" so (practically) nothing happens, which is what Firefox/Opera would do.

Firefox:
1. about:config
2. network.protocol-handler.external.mailto
3. Double click this value until it shows "false" in the Value field.

Opera:
1. about:config
2. Mail category
3. Handler value - set to: (choose 0 here)
- 0 for disabled
- 1 to launch Opera mail
- 2 to launch custom mail client
- 3 to launch default mail client

Hopefully this can help someone else in the future.


Brendon Kozlowski
Web Administrator
Saratoga Springs Public Library
49 Henry Street
Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866
[518] 584-7860 x217

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________________________________________
From: Robert Sullivan [robert.g.sullivan at gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2011 12:56 PM
To: Kozlowski,Brendon
Cc: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Disabling mailto: links on webpages for public computers

> Ever since I can remember, the mailto: hyperlink on webpages has been a bane to public, shared computer use. We are not going to configure our computers and server to enable proper use of these links, but because of that, very few patrons know how to configure this themselves (nor do we encourage them to try). But...in my research to try to figure out how to disable this functionality, I have come up short.
>
> Has anyone tried to remove this Windows OS "feature" successfully (without resultant side-effects) on their library's public machines?

We have considered setting the default mail client to one of the major
Web-based services on the theory this would solve at least some of the
issue.

I have not pursued this because in practice it rarely comes up (which
surprises me).

--
Bob Sullivan
Schenectady Digital History Archive
<http://www.schenectadyhistory.org/>
Schenectady County (NY) Public Library

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