REAL Hidden Directories
DOS Trick by kM & mR.dISCO
03/25/97 (screwing around at work)
- This is old but newbies need to know about it -
Another Original from the HackerZ Hideout 
www.hackersclub.com/km
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OK here is a trick that you can do with your DOS/Windows3.x and Windows 95 machine that works.
If you use Windows NT 3.51/NT4.0 or Win95 OSR2 w/FAT 32 this little trick doesn't work.  It 
only works on people who don't know DOS and the ASCII table. Use at your own risk!  
If you're trying to hide kiddie porn from the feds and get busted its not our fault!

Maybe we will do another revision of this that will be more malicious to the end user with this
hack.  I'm sure if you play with it long enough and read your DOS manual maybe you can guess
what we are thinking.  

Send us your own ideas about this trick...we will publish them here if they are good.
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What it Does:
  This trick can be used to hide data on a computer in a directory.  Unless you know how to 
  change to the directory manually you won't be able to access it.  (meaning Windows File 
  Manager and Windows Explorer although it sees it, it can't access it).  

Why it Works:
  In DOS there are 256 characters (i.e. letters, numbers and symbols numbered 0-255).  Look 
  in the back of any DOS manual to find these.  When you hold down the ALT key and type the 
  ASCII code from the number pad it will print it to the screen.  For example ALT (155) is ¢ 
  and ALT (129) is ü. However, ALT (255) is the NULL character (it is true nothingness).  
  If you create a directory using ALT (255), it will appear to have no name, but...=) 

  NOTE: You will not have the access to the full character set unless ANSI is loaded. 
	Look in your DOS book, or in WIN 95 help to do this.

How to Do It:
  Goto DOS and do these commands
    C:
    cd\
    md {hold ALT (on your numberpad only)} 255 <- this is an ASCII NULL Character
    cd ALT 255
  and put something in there

-=>  If you want to be cruel and evil do something stupid like "ALT-255xxxpics" on a computer
     at a local CompUsa.  See if the idiots could delete the directory or see if there are
     actual XXX Pics in there.
    

Limitations:

  This can only be created in DOS or a DOS window.  If you create this in explorer or file
  manager it will let you access the directory.

What the Average User Sees:
  To test it...go into windows File Manager or Explorer...you will see a C:\_ directory...when 
  you double click it will say : 
     " c:\_ not accessible. 
      This Folder was moved or removed"
  Heheh...If you really want to be bad ATTRIB the directory +H so no one in DOS can see it.


Updated on 6/30/97...
An Email I received by Gizmo

Subject: Limitations using 255
Date:  Mon, 30 Jun 1997 01:01:18 -0500

I was just messing around and found the neat dos trick.  
Not that it really matters but another limitation of the trick is that 
if the "special directory" is a subdirectory then you can just use "deltree" on the parent 
directory. 

Here's an even simpler method... 
Say you make a directory called "trick" inserting the null character in front. 
Just type "deltree *trick".  And it's gone! 

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Why should I use this?
 -  Good for kids who want to hide porn from mommy and daddy!  
 -  If your a tech support person you know how lame users can be. This is handy for making 
    backups of configurations and covering your ass.
 -  Its probably also good to pull batch file pranks and such on unsuspecting lamers that use
    the 16 bit file manager in Windows 95.  (that one was for you Wyle)

Its a small hack...but its for newbies who need to learn even the littlest of things count.

If you have a small hack you think newbies should know please send it to
km@hackersclub.com