User Profile directories - security measure???

Discussion in 'Windows 10' started by OpenSourceGhost, Apr 29, 2023.

  1. OpenSourceGhost

    OpenSourceGhost MDL Member

    Feb 14, 2022
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    #1 OpenSourceGhost, Apr 29, 2023
    Last edited: Apr 29, 2023
    After first-time installation of Ubisoft's Rainbow Six: Siege, loading the game shows a "Updating Security Measures" banner. During that time, the game EXE is permanently copied into a Ubisoft sub-directory within "User\AppData\Local" directory. I think that sub-directory name is pseudo-random, depending on patch version. Going forward, the game uses that copied EXE file from that "User\AppData\Local" instead of using the EXE from directory to which the game was installed. I also noticed that by default, Tor Browser is also installed into user profile directory.

    How is use of user profile directories for launching EXE files a security measure? How is that any different from using other directories? Wouldn't it make sense to copy EXE files to protected directories, like "Program Files" and launch from there? Does it have something to do with permissions?