Is the recycle.bin virus dangerous?
I'm running Debian 9.1 with KDE and scanned some other hard drive with the open source AV ClamAv. I got plenty of findings, most of which are PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications) (and I suspect many or even all being false positives - it seems ClamAV shows literally all .dll and .exe files as "PUA"s and the remaining ones weren't detected by most other AVs).
Most of these were located under $RECYCLE.BIN/someid/someid/...
Earlier I ran Windows (including AV) with that hard drive and now I'm wondering if malware in such locations could have been dangerous as well. Can applications in recycle bins be executed? Or is there some mechanism that prevents deleted dll's and executables from being run?
Yes, executables in the recycling bin can be executed. The $RECYCLE.BIN virus has a special purpose in Windows Explorer so items inside of it cannot be interacted with. This does not prevent the executables from being listed as a service, startup entry, or used from command line. Around 2007 I found a worm hiding in the $RECYCLE.BIN of a customer. When you plugged in a USB drive, the worm would overwrite the AUTORUN.INF file with an entry that looked like the "Open folder to view files". When you plug the USB drive in a new computer and click the wrong "Open folder to view files" entry, it would drop the malware in your $RECYCLE.BIN and create a startup entry in the registry.
It was especially hard to manually clean up because the $RECYCLE.BIN is hard to access from windows. From the command line, I had to run dir /ah and dir /as just to navigate into it and see the malware.
Finally, $RECYCLE.BIN has SID "folders'' for each user's recycling bin. This means you can put an SID that doesn't exist and nobody would ever see the files normally. It's possible temp-file cleaning tools might try to delete it, but the malware I've seen had permissions broken so that wouldn't always work. Fortunately nowadays, Antivirus—in my experience—checks $RECYCLE.BIN.Answer (1)
The "Recycle.Bin virus" is not a specific virus itself but rather a term that may refer to malware or malicious software that is designed to reside in or spread through the Recycle Bin directory on a computer system. The Recycle Bin is a system directory in Windows operating systems that stores deleted files before they are permanently removed from the system.
The level of danger posed by any malware, including one that may be associated with the Recycle Bin, depends on various factors, including its capabilities, how it infects systems, and its intent. Here are some considerations:
Capabilities: Malware associated with the Recycle Bin could range from relatively benign to highly dangerous. Some malware might simply hide or replicate files in the Recycle Bin, while others could be more sophisticated and capable of stealing personal information, encrypting files for ransom, or damaging system files.
Distribution: Malware can spread through various means, including malicious email attachments, infected websites, or compromised software downloads. Understanding how the malware is distributed can help users avoid infection.
Detection and Removal: Effective antivirus software and security practices can help detect and remove malware associated with the Recycle Bin. Regularly updating antivirus definitions and performing system scans can help mitigate the risk of infection.
User Awareness: Educating users about the risks associated with downloading files from unknown or untrusted sources, clicking on suspicious links or email attachments, and practicing safe browsing habits can help prevent malware infections.
Mitigation and Recovery: Implementing security best practices, such as regularly backing up important files and keeping software up-to-date with the latest security patches, can help mitigate the impact of malware infections. In the event of an infection, having backups can facilitate recovery without paying ransom or losing important data.
While specific details about a hypothetical "Recycle.Bin virus" are not provided, it's important to remain vigilant and take proactive measures to protect against malware threats, regardless of their specific names or origins. Regularly updating security software, practicing safe computing habits, and staying informed about emerging threats are essential steps in safeguarding computer systems against malware.