What is a .ica file?
ICA files (.ica) are primarily used by Citrix Workspace to easily share configurations and open remote resources via Workspace. “ICA” stands for “Independent Computing Architecture”.
Why are they used?
ICA files can be used in lieu of (or in combination with) a centralized “storefront”, where users are presented with a predefined listing of applications delivered by their organization through Workspace.
For example, I could setup “portal.example.com” and have a button that says “Open App in Workspace”. When the button is clicked, we’ll have it download and open a preconfigured ICA file to the user’s local machine. Assuming Workspace is already setup on the machine and there are no other permissions blocking the operation, Workspace should open and direct the user to my application.
P.S. Having trouble getting ICA files to open through the browser? Check out our article here.
Are ICA files safe?
ICA files are not inherently unsafe or malicious. Just like many other file types, however, they can be used for malicious activities.
For example, a threat actor could craft a misleading ICA file that directs the user to a fake login prompt that will capture their credentials for the real application the user intended to visit. This is a form of phishing.
Likewise, a threat actor could craft an ICA file to direct users to an application that runs malicious code on the user’s machine or otherwise exploits a vulnerability in Workspace itself.
To stay safe, users should learn to recognize possible phishing attempts and avoid clicking on/downloading unsolicited links or files.
Conclusion
For the most part, end users rarely have to see or handle ICA files, as the beauty of Workspace and its accompanying technologies will handle the nitty-gritty. Nonetheless, it can be useful to educate your users on the underlying technology that makes their daily interactions with computer systems work, especially when it comes to potential security concerns.
