Technical Note: Enabling Google Chrome to read PDF files using Chrome PDF Viewer if the FortiGate is blocking with an Application Control profile

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Description

This article offers a quick guide to resolve the issue associated with Google Chrome where it cannot open any PDF file with Chrome PDF Viewer, when the FortiGate is blocking Social Networks, Video Streaming, Cloud Storage, Share and Collaboration, Sex and Adult Websites, others, with Application Control sensors.

This issue only happens with Google Chrome.  All other web browsers are able to open the PDF files.

Solution

• Google Chrome must have Chrome PDF Viewer enabled (Go to chrome://plugins and enable “Chrome PDF Viewer”).
  
  
• Verify if after disabling the Application Control profile in the policy, Google Chrome can open the PDF Files.
  
  
• If Google Chrome cannot open the PDF files, edit the Application Control profile (Go to Security Profiles > Application Control).
  
  
• Add the sensors HTTP.Segmented.Download (Sensor Id 17136) and HTTP.Download.Accelerator (Sensor Id 33224) and configure them as “Allow”.
  
  
• Verify that Google Chrome can now open the PDF files.