An exe file is an executable file used to install and run programs, but can also be harmful if infected with viruses. It’s important to scan before clicking and keep antivirus programs up to date. Hacking an exe file is illegal unless it’s public domain software.
An exe file (pronounced as the letters EXE) is a computer file ending with the “.exe” extension otherwise known as an executable file. When you click on an exe file, a built-in routine automatically executes code that can set various functions into motion. Exe files are used to install and run programs and routines.
An exe file is just one of several types of file formats recognized by various operating systems. Text files, which are files that don’t generate code but simply display text, end in txt. Microsoft Word saves files with the extension doc, short for document. Another common file type is the compressed or zipped file, which uses the zip extension.
The exe file is one of the most useful file types precisely because it runs programs; however, this also makes it potentially harmful. It can be used as a delivery system for viruses or other malicious routines. Outwardly, the infected exe file might look quite benign. Clicking it may appear to launch nothing more than a cartoon or a simple arcade game. However, invisible code can be running in the background, infecting or compromising your computer.
If you click on a malicious exe file, your computer may become unstable for hours or days afterward. Often the user does not connect the problem to the cause and attributes it to other factors, such as the need to defragment or replace a disk. Personal information or password keystrokes could be transferred to an unknown website without your knowledge, or your machine could delete your files and crash altogether. Any of these scenarios and more can be set in motion by simply clicking on a “bad” exe file.
Because of the potential for damage, when you download an exe file it’s a good idea to scan it with a reputable virus scanner before clicking on it. To this end, security experts recommend setting browsers so that websites cannot automatically load programs. This gives the browser the ability to monitor which programs are passed to his computer.
Exe files are generally not meant to be edited and changing the size of the exe file will render it unusable. Since the exe file is most often a program, it is regularly protected by copyright laws, according to the related license agreement issued by its author. Hacking an exe file is illegal in this case. The exception is public domain software. Public domain software belongs to the public and can be legally altered by anyone.
Since it is safer to err on the side of caution, the best defense is a good offense. Experts recommend keeping your antivirus programs up to date and deleting emails from unknown sources. If you receive an exe file from someone you trust, scan it before clicking on it. Even files that appear to come from reliable sources can be vilified by third parties without the knowledge of the source.
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