Skip to content
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
  • World
  • Users
  • Groups
Skins
  • Light
  • Cerulean
  • Cosmo
  • Flatly
  • Journal
  • Litera
  • Lumen
  • Lux
  • Materia
  • Minty
  • Morph
  • Pulse
  • Sandstone
  • Simplex
  • Sketchy
  • Spacelab
  • United
  • Yeti
  • Zephyr
  • Dark
  • Cyborg
  • Darkly
  • Quartz
  • Slate
  • Solar
  • Superhero
  • Vapor

  • Default (No Skin)
  • No Skin
Collapse
Code Project
  1. Home
  2. The Lounge
  3. Did You Guys Hear...

Did You Guys Hear...

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved The Lounge
securityquestion
60 Posts 31 Posters 0 Views 1 Watching
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • G gaurav_scr

    Do you mean if I rename a normal exe file to install.exe then it will ask for admin rights to start?

    realJSOPR Offline
    realJSOPR Offline
    realJSOP
    wrote on last edited by
    #28

    According to what I've read, yes.

    "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
    -----
    "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • realJSOPR realJSOP

      ...that Vista determines what apps should be run with admin privileges based on the name of the executable? If the name of your exe includes "Install", Vista will require admin rights for it to run. If you simple change the name of the exe to something like "Boffo", it will NOT require admin rights to run. Microsoft claims it was a method for preventing malware to run, but now that the malware authors know about it, I guess it's been reduced to yet another pointless "security" feature. Way to go, MS!

      "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
      -----
      "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

      S Offline
      S Offline
      Steve Thresher
      wrote on last edited by
      #29

      This is a good idea. Honest developers don't need to do anything to their installer other than change the name to get elevated permissions. Spyware programs cannot run without confirmation from the operator. The only problem I can see is if your everyday application is called setup or install which would seem very unlikely. Read this[^] for more information.

      AxisFirst For Business

      D J H 3 Replies Last reply
      0
      • P Pete OHanlon

        Link please.

        Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.

        S Offline
        S Offline
        szukuro
        wrote on last edited by
        #30

        http://blogs.msdn.com/onoj/archive/2007/04/20/windows-vista-uac-and-installer-detection.aspx[^]

        1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • H hairy_hats

          This works in XP too - try making a copy of notepad.exe and call it install.exe. :rolleyes:

          L Offline
          L Offline
          lost in transition
          wrote on last edited by
          #31

          That didn't work. I copied notepad.exe to my desktop, ran it and closed, then renamed it, ran it and closed with no problems.


          God Bless, Jason
          Programmer: A biological machine designed to convert caffeine into code.
          Developer: A person who develops working systems by writing and using software. [^]

          D 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • realJSOPR realJSOP

            ...that Vista determines what apps should be run with admin privileges based on the name of the executable? If the name of your exe includes "Install", Vista will require admin rights for it to run. If you simple change the name of the exe to something like "Boffo", it will NOT require admin rights to run. Microsoft claims it was a method for preventing malware to run, but now that the malware authors know about it, I guess it's been reduced to yet another pointless "security" feature. Way to go, MS!

            "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
            -----
            "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

            B Offline
            B Offline
            Bradml
            wrote on last edited by
            #32

            Idiots.


            Brad Australian - Bradml on "The ADOTD" Hey all, did you just use/read an acronym? Post it HERE, at the ADOTD[^]

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • L lost in transition

              That didn't work. I copied notepad.exe to my desktop, ran it and closed, then renamed it, ran it and closed with no problems.


              God Bless, Jason
              Programmer: A biological machine designed to convert caffeine into code.
              Developer: A person who develops working systems by writing and using software. [^]

              D Offline
              D Offline
              Dario Solera
              wrote on last edited by
              #33

              You should try with a normal user account, not administrator.

              ________________________________________________ Personal Blog [ITA] - Tech Blog [ENG] - My Photos ScrewTurn Wiki 2.0.4

              L 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • S Steve Thresher

                This is a good idea. Honest developers don't need to do anything to their installer other than change the name to get elevated permissions. Spyware programs cannot run without confirmation from the operator. The only problem I can see is if your everyday application is called setup or install which would seem very unlikely. Read this[^] for more information.

                AxisFirst For Business

                D Offline
                D Offline
                Dave Sexton
                wrote on last edited by
                #34

                Steve Thresher wrote:

                Honest developers

                And the dishonest ones?

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • S Steve Thresher

                  This is a good idea. Honest developers don't need to do anything to their installer other than change the name to get elevated permissions. Spyware programs cannot run without confirmation from the operator. The only problem I can see is if your everyday application is called setup or install which would seem very unlikely. Read this[^] for more information.

                  AxisFirst For Business

                  J Offline
                  J Offline
                  JimmyRopes
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #35

                  Steve Thresher wrote:

                  Spyware programs cannot run without confirmation from the operator

                  Unless they are named Boffo.exe! :rolleyes:

                  Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
                  Think inside the box! ProActive Secure Systems
                  I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes

                  A 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • S Steve Thresher

                    This is a good idea. Honest developers don't need to do anything to their installer other than change the name to get elevated permissions. Spyware programs cannot run without confirmation from the operator. The only problem I can see is if your everyday application is called setup or install which would seem very unlikely. Read this[^] for more information.

                    AxisFirst For Business

                    H Offline
                    H Offline
                    hlmechanic
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #36

                    I hope malware writers don't rename there files to something less suspecious , like say, cute.scr or something becose then it would go right past. Hope they all stay named, oh, virus_installer.exe or something.:wtf:

                    R S V 3 Replies Last reply
                    0
                    • realJSOPR realJSOP

                      ...that Vista determines what apps should be run with admin privileges based on the name of the executable? If the name of your exe includes "Install", Vista will require admin rights for it to run. If you simple change the name of the exe to something like "Boffo", it will NOT require admin rights to run. Microsoft claims it was a method for preventing malware to run, but now that the malware authors know about it, I guess it's been reduced to yet another pointless "security" feature. Way to go, MS!

                      "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
                      -----
                      "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

                      W Offline
                      W Offline
                      WillemM
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #37

                      I knew Vista did that, I find it kinda lame. But at least it works :)

                      WM. What about weapons of mass-construction? "What? Its an Apple MacBook Pro. They are sexy!" - Paul Watson

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • realJSOPR realJSOP

                        ...that Vista determines what apps should be run with admin privileges based on the name of the executable? If the name of your exe includes "Install", Vista will require admin rights for it to run. If you simple change the name of the exe to something like "Boffo", it will NOT require admin rights to run. Microsoft claims it was a method for preventing malware to run, but now that the malware authors know about it, I guess it's been reduced to yet another pointless "security" feature. Way to go, MS!

                        "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
                        -----
                        "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

                        A Offline
                        A Offline
                        Anna Jayne Metcalfe
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #38

                        The alternative would have been for every installer to be modified to include an application manifest with admin privilege levels. Given that this would have been commercial suicide, MS took the safe option - no matter how bodgy it appears. Remember that if an app is deemed as requiring admin permissions and UAC is on you'll get a UAC prompt - the "installer" won't get those permissions automatically. So malware disguised as an installer still needs "some idiot" to press the big red button (which they probably will, but then some people can't be helped...) before it can do it's worst.

                        Anna :rose: Linting the day away :cool: Anna's Place | Tears and Laughter "If mushy peas are the food of the devil, the stotty cake is the frisbee of God"

                        realJSOPR 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • J JimmyRopes

                          Steve Thresher wrote:

                          Spyware programs cannot run without confirmation from the operator

                          Unless they are named Boffo.exe! :rolleyes:

                          Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
                          Think inside the box! ProActive Secure Systems
                          I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes

                          A Offline
                          A Offline
                          Anna Jayne Metcalfe
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #39

                          In which case they don't get admin privileges. As simple a thing as attempting to write to the Local Machine hive will result in E_ACCESS_DENIED. :)

                          Anna :rose: Linting the day away :cool: Anna's Place | Tears and Laughter "If mushy peas are the food of the devil, the stotty cake is the frisbee of God"

                          M 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • D Dario Solera

                            You should try with a normal user account, not administrator.

                            ________________________________________________ Personal Blog [ITA] - Tech Blog [ENG] - My Photos ScrewTurn Wiki 2.0.4

                            L Offline
                            L Offline
                            lost in transition
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #40

                            Trust me here at this place I do not have an administrator account.


                            God Bless, Jason
                            Programmer: A biological machine designed to convert caffeine into code.
                            Developer: A person who develops working systems by writing and using software. [^]

                            P 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • H hlmechanic

                              I hope malware writers don't rename there files to something less suspecious , like say, cute.scr or something becose then it would go right past. Hope they all stay named, oh, virus_installer.exe or something.:wtf:

                              R Offline
                              R Offline
                              Rajesh R Subramanian
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #41

                              Yes. The common name of the virus is included at the end. For example, a virus might be named something like INSTALL_VIRUS_W32.KWBOT.F.WORM.EXE That is the prescribed standard.


                              Nobody can give you wiser advice than yourself. - Cicero

                              C 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • R Rajesh R Subramanian

                                Yes. The common name of the virus is included at the end. For example, a virus might be named something like INSTALL_VIRUS_W32.KWBOT.F.WORM.EXE That is the prescribed standard.


                                Nobody can give you wiser advice than yourself. - Cicero

                                C Offline
                                C Offline
                                Chris Losinger
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #42

                                brahmma wrote:

                                That is the prescribed standard.

                                last i heard, the ISO was still debating this. there was a big disagreement over backwards compatibility with 8.3 systems. but, IMO, that needs to be split into a separate standard.

                                image processing toolkits | batch image processing | blogging

                                R 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • R Rajesh R Subramanian

                                  John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

                                  If you simple change the name of the exe to something like "Boffo", it will NOT require admin rights to run.

                                  Microsoft: "Boffo" added to the list :cool: Now anything with "boffo" in its name will require admin priveleges!

                                  found at bash.org [kernx]|.|.|.|.|.|.|.| [kernx]sorry, wrong window [beox33]say me why in the f*ck will you type that in any window

                                  M Offline
                                  M Offline
                                  megaadam
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #43

                                  So with this latest extension, Vista has increased it's security...:suss:

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • A Anna Jayne Metcalfe

                                    The alternative would have been for every installer to be modified to include an application manifest with admin privilege levels. Given that this would have been commercial suicide, MS took the safe option - no matter how bodgy it appears. Remember that if an app is deemed as requiring admin permissions and UAC is on you'll get a UAC prompt - the "installer" won't get those permissions automatically. So malware disguised as an installer still needs "some idiot" to press the big red button (which they probably will, but then some people can't be helped...) before it can do it's worst.

                                    Anna :rose: Linting the day away :cool: Anna's Place | Tears and Laughter "If mushy peas are the food of the devil, the stotty cake is the frisbee of God"

                                    realJSOPR Offline
                                    realJSOPR Offline
                                    realJSOP
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #44

                                    Anna-Jayne Metcalfe wrote:

                                    an installer still needs "some idiot" to press the big red button

                                    There is no shortage of those.

                                    "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
                                    -----
                                    "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

                                    A 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • H hlmechanic

                                      I hope malware writers don't rename there files to something less suspecious , like say, cute.scr or something becose then it would go right past. Hope they all stay named, oh, virus_installer.exe or something.:wtf:

                                      S Offline
                                      S Offline
                                      Steve Thresher
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #45

                                      You're an idiot. See Anna-Jayne's replies.

                                      AxisFirst For Business

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • H hairy_hats

                                        This works in XP too - try making a copy of notepad.exe and call it install.exe. :rolleyes:

                                        V Offline
                                        V Offline
                                        Vikram A Punathambekar
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #46

                                        I remember seeing this behavior on XP years back. I was too lazy to log out (I'm a local admin) and check as I was having a lot of apps running, and went down to play TT. :->

                                        Cheers, Vikram.


                                        "But nowadays, it means nothing. Features are never frozen, development keeps happening, bugs never get fixed, and documentation is something you might find on wikipedia." - Marc Clifton on betas.

                                        Join the CP group at NationStates. Password: byalmightybob

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • H hlmechanic

                                          I hope malware writers don't rename there files to something less suspecious , like say, cute.scr or something becose then it would go right past. Hope they all stay named, oh, virus_installer.exe or something.:wtf:

                                          V Offline
                                          V Offline
                                          Vikram A Punathambekar
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #47

                                          I find it incredible that you've got two 5 votes. It's normal programs called "Setup.exe" or "Install.exe" that require admin privileges, not the other way round. Unless, of course, that was sarcasm.

                                          Cheers, Vikram.


                                          "But nowadays, it means nothing. Features are never frozen, development keeps happening, bugs never get fixed, and documentation is something you might find on wikipedia." - Marc Clifton on betas.

                                          Join the CP group at NationStates. Password: byalmightybob

                                          R 1 Reply Last reply
                                          0
                                          Reply
                                          • Reply as topic
                                          Log in to reply
                                          • Oldest to Newest
                                          • Newest to Oldest
                                          • Most Votes


                                          • Login

                                          • Don't have an account? Register

                                          • Login or register to search.
                                          • First post
                                            Last post
                                          0
                                          • Categories
                                          • Recent
                                          • Tags
                                          • Popular
                                          • World
                                          • Users
                                          • Groups