Double secret NTFS

Windows 1 Minute

Earlier today, someone visited this site after entering the phrase viewing super super hidden folders in the Windows Live search engine.

Ok, I’ve heard of hidden files and folders (which have the Hidden attribute set), and super hidden files and folders (which have the System and Hidden attributes set).

But super super hidden folders?

Did I miss a memo?

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Published by Ed Bott

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4 thoughts on “Double secret NTFS”

  2. I know about alternate data streams in NTFS. Sort of left over from the VMS roots.

    filename:stream

    From cmd, type in:

    notepad x.txt:hidden

    Type in some text.

    Save

    Close

    Then type in notepad x.txt

  3. Some search engines will put more weight on a word when generating results if it is in the query numerous times. The person might have been doing that.

  4. They were probably referring to the files/folders that do not show up in Windows Explorer even after you enable the “Show hidden files and folders” and disable the “Hide protected operating system files” options. For example, navigate to
    C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\
    after setting your system to show all files. See any directories in there? If so, get an idea of how many so you can compare. Now, go back in, but add a folder name to the end.
    C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\content.ie5\
    Where did that folder come from? It doesn’t show up for me in Windows XP. Pick a file inside one of those folders that showed up, and try to do a Windows Explorer search for it. There are files here that track your internet history, even after you try to delete it.

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