On TV.com: SUPERNATURAL Breaks with a Bang
BNET Business Network:
BNET
TechRepublic
ZDNet
TalkBack 12 of 80:
Next »
« Previous
The real WHY...
Why does the OS allow any hiding other than the basic hidden flag or protect hidden files?

It's very simple. There are users who aren't exactly clueless - they know JUST enough to be dangerous around a computer.

These are the types who, when sent a virus "hoax" - i.e. that such and such file is actually an infection and by golly, you best delete it if you know what's best for your system - will fall for it and delete the file only to have their system lock up, stop responding or just not work properly.

Case in point... Just yesterday, I was at a client who had me look at one of his machines. Seems some wiseguy deleted RUNDLL32.EXE from the drive. You couldn't get into the control panel, or do any of the tasks that require RUNDLL32.EXE. I had to dig out my old Win 98 SE disk and restore the file.

While it wasn't a super big deal - Windows will happily run without it, it did cost the guy about 1/2 an hour's labor for me to find the CD, find the cab on the CD containing RUNDLL32.EXE and extract it.

The idea to hide these files is to protect them from those who are clueless, or are just above clueless but aren't quite IT types. The intent behind this makes sense - saves IT people a LOT of unnecessary headaches. In practice, it even makes a lot of sense.

Folders, like Program Files or Windows (WinNT on 2000 systems), while being invisible to the average user are not, however, invisible to AV programs. These are usually the first two folder trees that most AV programs scan. (They're also, usually, the first two folders created by Windows Setup when you install from the CD.)
Posted by: Wolfie2K3   Posted on: 01/12/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
Reply to Story Reply to Message

Alert moderator to an offensive message

Subscribe to this discussion via Email or RSS

What kind of hiding?  fivetalentguy | 01/11/06
Hiding  adsanders@... | 01/12/06
as far as i can tell...  linuxoverwindows | 01/12/06
Not hidden to the kernel  BrewMan01 | 01/12/06
Why allow hiding?  fizzmaster | 01/11/06
Well put...  techboy_z | 01/12/06
Windows XP boots faster  duclod | 01/12/06
or...  linuxoverwindows | 01/12/06
Not an OS issue  Interfecus | 01/12/06
It is an OS issue  Leria | 01/16/06
Erm... Dude  EdwardT | 01/12/06
The real WHY...  Wolfie2K3 | 01/12/06
Those people are stupid  Leria | 01/16/06
Bloatware hiding in bloatware  zmud | 01/12/06
Not me. Their recycle bin was the end  jinko | 01/12/06
go with avast  Jeff Spicoli | 01/12/06
I want a second opinion  IceTheNet@... | 01/12/06
here  Jeff Spicoli | 01/12/06
Oh well that is easy then  IceTheNet@... | 01/12/06
A second opinion  Dave F_z | 01/12/06
AVG vs. Avast  Quiet_Type | 01/12/06
Spicoli Now Star in Czechoslovakia  PMC-CON | 01/17/06
Now You are Really Showing Your Ignorance  HiBeamR_z | 01/12/06
Re: Now You are Really Showing Your Ignorance  snakesc | 01/14/06
Norton Antivirus isn't the right product  Leria | 01/16/06
need link 2please  moses_z | 01/23/06
it's really crap!  pikeman666@... | 01/12/06
The disc might have been defective  Leria | 01/16/06
dud is Symantec, dudley  moses_z | 01/23/06
Early reporting of possible hacker attacts  skip_fraker | 01/12/06
Given the nature of the feature...  techboy_z | 01/12/06
Bet the Black Hats Knew it Before ZDNet Posted This  tbbrickster_z | 01/12/06
Annoying 'feature' anyway  voyager529 | 01/12/06
100% agree  jinko | 01/12/06
Option to not install/or uninstall parts of NSW  cglrcng@... | 01/13/06
Recovery Bin Uses  adsanders@... | 01/12/06
There is a good purpose  Leria | 01/16/06
Any Tools to completely remove Norton?  OldTimer1 | 01/12/06
Yes  Ralfthedog | 01/12/06
Maybe  moonbr | 01/12/06
Tools to remove Norton  smcc_z | 01/12/06
Removing Norton  prushworth@... | 01/12/06
Any Tools to completely remove Norton  a8a09923@... | 02/05/06
Completely remove Symantec Norton Antivirus  tschrock | 03/12/06
ISO original RNAV.EXE  glnz | 05/28/06
Norton protected files  frank_s | 01/12/06
Norton is still the name?  IT Scion | 01/12/06
what is TMIS  IceTheNet@... | 01/12/06
re:what is TMIS  monkey_poop | 01/12/06
What else is new?  Lorenzo1950 | 01/12/06
and furthermore  Lorenzo1950 | 01/12/06
Nortons firewall is no good either  IceTheNet@... | 01/12/06
Have You Tried Tiny Personal FW?  tbbrickster_z | 01/12/06
Not so sure about that...  Wolfie2K3 | 01/12/06
The firewall isn't the problem  Leria | 01/16/06
That is a script warning...  cglrcng@... | 01/13/06
Look at that list!!  s_gamgee | 01/13/06
Hiding the world  JenBell | 01/12/06
what about hidden files in chip  IceTheNet@... | 01/12/06
Only Some Really faaa-REAKY "People" at Redmond... (nt)  tbbrickster_z | 01/12/06
Content.IE5  Wolfie2K3 | 01/12/06
Rabbit Hole...  cglrcng@... | 01/13/06
re: Rabbit Hole...  ray.pating | 01/13/06
You can see that directory  Leria | 01/16/06
Yep - we use Windows  ejhonda | 01/12/06
NOD32  alex@... | 01/12/06
??? CNET: has Microsoft's passed Winfix_ F-Secure  Pop 3 | 01/12/06
Who'da thunk,,,  preacherx | 01/12/06
Q. How much software contains rootkits?  Betelgeuse58 | 01/12/06
Yes! RNAV 2004.exe & SYMCLN.EXE  cglrcng@... | 01/13/06
ISO original RNAV.EXE  glnz | 05/28/06
rnav2004  canarilla | 10/13/06
Sensationalistic lies?  Dukhalion | 01/13/06
Norton fell since 2002  pegassus | 01/14/06
Turn it OFF  Pegasus1 | 01/15/06
"FYI"  Pegasus1 | 01/15/06
Let's keep things balanced  FNicodem | 01/16/06
Symantec didn't close off hacker hiding place  Boot_Agnostic | 01/16/06
what else then  road runner_z | 01/28/06
ISO original RNAV.EXE  glnz | 05/28/06

What do you think?

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

advertisement
Click Here
advertisement

Enterprise Applications

  • Check out some of the easiest and most powerful ways to boost productivity while saving money on your application infrastructure. See ZDNet's comprehensive Enterprise Application resource center, now!
  • New Online Dashboard
  • Read about top issues IT decision-makers face every day, plus get cost effective solutions to real life IT problems. Oracle Topline