Hotmail attachments

I am trying to download an e mail attachment using hotmail. When it goes to the screen where the file downloads, the one with the animated piece of paper going from the icon of the world into an icon of a folder, at the top in the border where the download speed used to be, there is a series of little hollow white squares that go from side to side. They look kind of like characters that one might type from a keyboard, the same size, just empty squares.

Does anyone else have this or have a clue as to what it is? Is it a sign of spyware or can I ignore it? Is there a fix for it?

Do I need to be concerned or contact hotmail about it?

I know very little about PCs, please be gentle lol.