Virus Question...

Tiax

<div class="IPBDescription">worms too, and the like</div> Many of these things target files in the windows directory do they not? What if the windows directory wasn't at C: ? Or wasn't called windows?

For example, if I install windows to C:/Windows2ax...would virus's and worms still affect my computer? I assume many will search for and find the files they need. But just curious.

Zel

seems logical, but windows has a feature that helps program files (including viruses) find it.

or else you would never be able to install anything properly.

eViL_tHe_CaT

I'm sure there isn't a hacker alive that would be so stupid as to target c:\windows/nt

Wheeee

<!--QuoteBegin--eViL tHe CaT+Aug 15 2003, 12:50 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (eViL tHe CaT @ Aug 15 2003, 12:50 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I'm sure there isn't a hacker alive that would be so stupid as to target c:\windows/nt <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
you'd be surprised.

Anyway, method of infection and replication is different from virus to virus, sometimes they replace system executables, sometimes they replace dll's, sometimes they do nothing and just spread.

GreyPaws

most of the viruses/worms target the registry not the actual directory. So no matter where you put you default windows directory the path will still appear in the targeted registry keys.

very common places for virsues to target in registry are:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run


this allows the virus to run its own infected files whenever windows restars.

This is by no means a full explanation, and not all viruses act in the same manner, but this is very common.