Enabling Hidden Files and Spyware

The first sentence in Major Attitude's "How to Show System Files" post reads, "For spyware, trojan or anti-virus tools to do their job you must allow system files to be seen." (you know in folder options, showing hidden files and folders)

I did not know there was a direct relationship, and just figured viewing the hidden files was for the user sitting at the console, while I figured Ad-Aware and AVG type programs had full access to system files regardless. Now I know, and obviously that's important information to have, so I just thought I'd post it.

 

Enabling hidden files just means that you can delete files that the spyware is hiding from you.

Its true, AdAware does not take heed to hidden files and will detect them regardless, but when you're deleting a particularly stubborn piece of spyware manually you need to have hidden/system files visible

 

Oh...

So all malware in hidden files would be detected during the detection phase.

Viewing hidden files can be important, not during the detection phase, but during the removal phase.

Gotcha (I think, correct me if I'm wrong). Yeah that surprised me. Much thanks for the clarification.